Ruth 3
English Standard Version
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek (A)rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz (B)our relative, (C)with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 (D)Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and (E)his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. (F)Spread your wings[a] over your servant, for you are (G)a redeemer.” 10 And he said, (H)“May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than (I)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 (J)a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am (K)a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will (L)redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, (M)as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
Ruth 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ruth’s Appeal to Boaz
3 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find security for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative?(A) Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
5 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.”[a] 6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits,[b] he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley. Then she went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! 9 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak[c] over me,(B) for you are a family redeemer.”(C)
10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you,(D) my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before,[d] because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say,[e] since all the people in my town[f] know that you are a woman of noble character.(E) 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good.(F) Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives,(G) I will. Now lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark.[g] Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a[h] woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she[i] went into the town.
16 She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “How did it go,[j] my daughter?”
Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said,[k] ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
Footnotes
- Ruth 3:5 Alt Hb tradition reads say to me
- Ruth 3:7 Lit and his heart was glad
- Ruth 3:9 Or Spread the edge of your garment; lit Spread the wing of your garment; Ru 2:12
- Ruth 3:10 Lit kindness at the last than at the first
- Ruth 3:11 Some Hb mss, Orig, Syr, Tg, Vg read say to me
- Ruth 3:11 Lit all the gate of my people
- Ruth 3:14 Lit up before a man could recognize his companion
- Ruth 3:14 LXX; MT reads the
- Ruth 3:15 Some Hb mss, Aram, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read he
- Ruth 3:16 Lit Who are you
- Ruth 3:17 Alt Hb tradition, LXX, Syr, Tg read said to me
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