Ruth 3
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
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. 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. 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. 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 tell me 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 he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came quietly and uncovered his feet, and lay down. 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] 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. 12 But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. 13 Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin[b] for you, good; let him do so. 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.’
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 city. 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.’
Ruth 3
Expanded Bible
Naomi’s Plan
3 Then Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, ·I must [L Should I not…?] find ·a suitable home [L rest; C a husband and a home to provide security] for you, ·one that will be good for you [or so you will be secure; L that it will go/be well for you]. 2 Now Boaz, whose ·young women [female servants] you worked with, is our close relative [C and so an appropriate guardian/kinsman-redeemer to marry Ruth; 2:20]. [L Look; T Behold] Tonight he will be ·working [L winnowing barley] at the threshing floor. 3 Wash yourself, put on perfume, ·change your clothes [or get dressed up; or put on your cloak], and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let him know you’re there until he has finished ·his dinner [L eating and drinking]. 4 Watch him so you will know where he lies down to sleep. When he lies down, go and ·lift the cover off [uncover] his ·feet [or legs; C evidently an appeal for marriage] and lie down. He will tell you what you should do.”
5 Then Ruth answered, “I will do everything you say.”
6 So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did all her mother-in-law ·told [instructed; commanded] her to do. 7 After ·his evening meal [L he had eaten and drunk], ·Boaz felt good [L his heart was good/pleased] and went to sleep lying ·beside [at the end of] the pile of grain. Ruth went to him quietly and lifted the cover from his feet and lay down.
8 About midnight Boaz ·was startled [or shuddered] and rolled over. [L And look/T behold] There was a woman lying near his feet! 9 Boaz asked, “Who are you?”
She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread ·your cover [or the corner of your garment; or your wings; 2:12] over me [C a request for the provision and protection of marriage], because you are a ·relative who is supposed to take care of me [guardian; kinsman-redeemer; 2:20].”
10 Then Boaz said, “The Lord bless you, my daughter. This [second; L last] act of kindness is greater than the ·kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning [L first]. You didn’t look for a young man to marry, either rich or poor. 11 Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do everything you ask, because all the people in our town know you are a ·good [worthy; noble] woman [Prov. 31:10]. 12 It is true that I am a ·relative who is to take care of you [guardian; kinsmen-redeemer; 2:20], but you have a closer relative than I. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning we will see if he will ·take care of [be a guardian for; redeem] you. If he decides to ·take care of [be a guardian for; redeem] you, that is fine. But if he refuses, I will ·take care of [be a guardian for; redeem] you myself, as surely as the Lord lives. So ·stay here [L lie down] until morning.”
14 So Ruth stayed near his feet until morning but got up while it was still too dark to recognize anyone. Boaz thought, “People in town must not know that the woman came here to the threshing floor.” 15 So Boaz said to Ruth, “Bring me your ·shawl [cloak] and hold it open.”
So Ruth held her ·shawl [cloak] open, and Boaz poured six portions of barley into it. Boaz then put it on ·her head [or her back; L her] and went[a] back to the city.
16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did ·you do [things go], my daughter?”
Ruth told Naomi everything that ·Boaz [L the man] did for her. 17 She said, “Boaz gave me these six portions of barley, saying, ‘You must not go home ·without a gift for [L empty to] your mother-in-law.’”
18 Naomi answered, “·Wait [Stay here; or Be patient], my daughter, until you see what happens. ·Boaz [L The man] will not rest until he has finished doing what he should do today.”
Footnotes
- Ruth 3:15 went Some Greek copies read “she went.”
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.