Noami Instructs Ruth
1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now isn’t Boaz, whose maidens you were with, our relative? He will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor. 3 Therefore bathe, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lay down. Then he will tell you what to do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.” 6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything that her mother-in-law told her. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of grain. Ruth came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid down.
Ruth Claims Boaz as Kinsman
8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned, and saw that a woman lay at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?”
She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant, for you are a close relative.”
10 He said, “You are blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say, for the entire city of my people know that you are a worthy woman.
12 Now it is true that I am a close relative. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the duties of a kinsman, good. Let him redeem you. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
14 She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before anyone could discern one person from another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you and hold it.” She held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then he went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?”
She told her all that the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’ ”
18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know what will happen, for the man will not rest until he has settled this today.”