She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her. After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits,[a] he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley. Then she went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! So he asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak[b] over me,(A) for you are a family redeemer.”(B)

10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you,(C) my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before,[c] 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,[d] since all the people in my town[e] know that you are a woman of noble character.(D) 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.(E) Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives,(F) 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.[f] Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a[g] 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[h] went into the town.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:7 Lit and his heart was glad
  2. Ruth 3:9 Or Spread the edge of your garment; lit Spread the wing of your garment; Ru 2:12
  3. Ruth 3:10 Lit kindness at the last than at the first
  4. Ruth 3:11 Some Hb mss, Orig, Syr, Tg, Vg read say to me
  5. Ruth 3:11 Lit all the gate of my people
  6. Ruth 3:14 Lit up before a man could recognize his companion
  7. Ruth 3:14 LXX; MT reads the
  8. Ruth 3:15 Some Hb mss, Aram, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read he

So she went down to the threshing floor, and she did everything just as her mother-in-law had ordered.

Boaz ate and drank, and he was in a good mood. He went over to lie down by the edge of the grain pile. Then she quietly approached, uncovered his legs, and lay down. During the middle of the night, the man shuddered and turned over—and there was a woman lying at his feet. “Who are you?” he asked.

She replied, “I’m Ruth your servant. Spread out your robe[a] over your servant, because you are a redeemer.”

10 He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter! You have acted even more faithfully than you did at first. You haven’t gone after rich or poor young men. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I’ll do for you everything you are asking. Indeed, my people—all who are at the gate—know that you are a woman of worth. 12 Now, although it’s certainly true that I’m a redeemer, there’s a redeemer who is a closer relative than I am. 13 Stay the night. And in the morning, if he’ll redeem you—good, let him redeem. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, then—as the Lord lives—I myself will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning. Then she got up before one person could recognize another, for he had said, “No one should know that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He said, “Bring the cloak that you have on and hold it out.” She held it out, and he measured out six measures of barley and placed it upon her. Then she[b] went into town.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:9 Or wing; cf 2:12; Ps 91:4
  2. Ruth 3:15 MT he; other Heb sources, Syr, Vulg she