I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do[a] not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.”

“I want to redeem it,” he answered.

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire[b] Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”[c](A)

The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4:4 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read if he does
  2. 4:5 Lit Naomi and from
  3. 4:5 Alt Hb tradition reads Naomi, I will have already acquired from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead man, the privilege of raising up the name of the dead man on his property

I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you[a] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you,(A) and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite,(B) the[b] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”(C)

At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem(D) it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts he
  2. Ruth 4:5 Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew (see also Septuagint) Naomi and from Ruth the Moabite, you acquire the