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So she went down to the threshing floor and did all that her mother-in-law had instructed.

When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight, the man was startled and rolled over; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.

He said, “Who are you?”

And she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread your cloak over me, for you are a redeeming kinsman.”

10 He said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last act of kindness to be greater than the first, because you have not pursued young men, whether poor or rich. 11 So now, my daughter, do not worry. All that you ask me, I will do for you. All of my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Now it is true that I am a redeeming kinsman. Yet there is another redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning if he wants to redeem you, very well. Let him do so. Yet if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you. I will, as the Lord lives! Sleep here until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “It must not be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

15 He said, “Bring me the shawl you have on you, and hold it.” So she held it, and he poured six measures of barley into it and placed it on her. Then she went into the city.

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So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and (A)his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. (B)Take[a] your maidservant under your wing, for you are (C)a [b]close relative.”

10 Then he said, (D)“Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than (E)at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a (F)virtuous woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a (G)close relative; however, (H)there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will (I)perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, (J)as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, (K)“Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Also he said, “Bring the [c]shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then [d]she went into the city.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:9 Or Spread the corner of your garment over your maidservant
  2. Ruth 3:9 redeemer, Heb. goel
  3. Ruth 3:15 cloak
  4. Ruth 3:15 Many Heb. mss., Syr., Vg. she; MT, LXX, Tg. he