At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. (A)Spread your wings[a] over your servant, for you are (B)a redeemer.” 10 And he said, (C)“May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than (D)the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are (E)a worthy woman.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment

In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment(A) over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer[a](B) of our family.”

10 “The Lord bless you,(C) my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier:(D) You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:9 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 12 and 13.