⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor^(A) and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

⁷ When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits,^(B) he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile.^(C) Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

⁹ “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment^(D) over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer^[a](E) of our family.”

¹⁰ “The Lord bless you,^(F) my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier:^(G) You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.^{(H) 12} Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family,^(I) there is another who is more closely related than^(J) I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer,^(K) good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives^(L) I will do it.^(M) Lie here until morning.”

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.^(N)”^(O)

¹⁵ He also said, “Bring me the shawl^(P) you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he^[b] went back to town.