Ruth 3

1One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not look for a home for you, where you will be well provided for?

2Now is not Boaz, whose young women you have been with, a relative of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.

3So wash, put on perfume, put on your cloak, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

4When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you tell me.”

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had told her.

7When Boaz had eaten and drunk and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the grain pile. Then she came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8In the middle of the night the man was startled, and he turned over. There was a woman lying at his feet!

9“Who are you?” he asked. She said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the corner of your garment over your servant, for you are a family redeemer.”

10He said, “May you be blessed by Yahweh, my daughter! This last kindness of yours is greater than the first, because you have not gone after the young men, whether poor or rich.

11Now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you all that you ask, for everyone in the town knows that you are a woman of noble character.

12It is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer who is a closer relative than I am.

13Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then as surely as Yahweh lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until morning.”

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

15He also said, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it out, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went into the town.

16When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.

17She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has settled the matter today.”