Ruth 3

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?

And she lodged with her mother-in-law: and Noemin her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor.

And now [is] not Booz our kinsman, with whose damsels thou wast? behold, he winnows barley this night in the floor.

3 Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

But do thou wash, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go up to the threshing-floor: do not discover thyself to the man until he has done 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 lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

And it shall come to pass when he lies down, that thou shalt mark the place where he lies down, and shalt come and lift up the covering of his feet, and shalt lie down; and he shall tell thee what thou shalt do.

5 She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.”

And Ruth said to her, All that thou shalt say, I will do.

6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her.

And she went down to the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law enjoined her.

7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

And Booz ate and drank, and his heart was glad, and he came to lie down by the side of the heap of corn; and she came secretly, and lifted up the covering of his feet.

8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

And it came to pass at midnight that the man was amazed, and troubled, and behold, 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 near kinsman.”

And he said, Who art thou? and she said, I am thine handmaid Ruth; spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near relation.

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 did not follow young men, whether poor or rich.

And Booz said, Blessed [be] thou of the Lord God, [my] daughter, for thou hast made thy latter kindness greater than the former, in that thou followest not after young men, whether [any be] poor or rich.

11 Now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.

And now fear not, my daughter, whatever thou shalt say I will do to thee; for all the tribe of my people knows that thou art a virtuous woman.

12 Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.

And now I am truly akin to thee; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until the morning.”

Lodge [here] for the night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will do the part of a kinsman to thee, well—let him do it: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, I will do the kinsman's part to thee, [as] the Lord lives; lie down till the morning.

14 She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before a man could know his neighbour; and Booz said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the 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.

And he said to her, Bring the apron that is upon thee: and she held it, and he measured six measures of barley, and put them upon her, and she 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.

And Ruth went in to her mother-in-law, and she said to her, [My] daughter! and [Ruth] told her all that the man had done to her.

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

And she said to her, He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, Go not empty to thy 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.”

And she said, Sit still, [my] daughter, until thou shalt know how the matter will fall out; for the man will not rest until the matter be accomplished this day.