Ruth 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
3 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you.(A) 2 Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.(B) 3 Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.(C) 4 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 She said to her, “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 instructed her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down.(D) 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.”[a](E) 10 He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman.(F) 12 But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I.(G) 13 Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin[b] for you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to act as next-of-kin[c] for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin[d] for you. Lie down until the morning.”(H)
14 So she lay at his feet until morning but got up before one person could recognize another, for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her back; then he went into the town. 16 She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you,[e] my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ” 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.”(I)
Ruth 3
International Standard Version
Naomi Offers to Find a Husband for Ruth
3 Ruth’s[a] mother-in-law Naomi, told her, “My daughter, should I not make inquiries about your financial security,[b] so you’ll be better off in life?[c] 2 Isn’t Boaz one of our close relatives? You’ve been associating with his women servants lately. Look, he’ll be winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but don’t let him see you[d] until after he’s finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down. He’ll tell you what to do.”
5 Ruth replied, “I’ll do everything you’ve said.” 6 So she went out to the threshing floor and did precisely what her mother-in-law had advised.
Ruth’s Meeting with Boaz
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heart’s content, he went over and lay down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruth[e] came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night, Boaz[f] was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet.
9 He asked her, “Who are you?”
She answered, “I’m only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge[g] of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer.”
10 He replied, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You’ve added to the gracious love you’ve already demonstrated[h] by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Don’t be afraid, my daughter. I’ll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that you’re a virtuous[i] woman. 12 It’s true that I’m your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I. 13 Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isn’t inclined to do so,[j] then, as the Lord lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, “It shouldn’t be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor.” 15 So he said, “Take your cloak and hold it out.” She did so, and he measured out six units[k] of barley and placed them in a sack[l] on her. Then she left for town.
Naomi’s Response to Ruth
16 When Ruth[m] returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi[n] asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she related everything that the man had done for her. 17 Ruth[o] also said, “He gave me these six units[p] of barley and told me, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”[q]
18 Naomi[r] replied, “Be patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man won’t rest until he finishes everything today.”
Footnotes
- Ruth 3:1 Lit. her
- Ruth 3:1 Lit. about a resting place
- Ruth 3:1 Lit. so your life may go well
- Ruth 3:3 Lit. but do not make yourself known to the man
- Ruth 3:7 Lit. She
- Ruth 3:8 Lit. the man
- Ruth 3:9 Or wing; cf. 2:12
- Ruth 3:10 Lit. You’ve showed more gracious love in the latter end than in the beginning
- Ruth 3:11 The Heb. word for virtuous is identical to the word for of considerable wealth in 2:1
- Ruth 3:13 I.e. act as related redeemer
- Ruth 3:15 The Heb. lacks units
- Ruth 3:15 The Heb. lacks in a sack
- Ruth 3:16 Lit. she
- Ruth 3:16 Lit. she
- Ruth 3:17 Lit. She
- Ruth 3:17 The Heb. lacks units
- Ruth 3:17 Lit. in vain
- Ruth 3:18 Lit. She
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
