Ruth 4

1 Then Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such an one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

Boaz went to the town gate, and sat down there. The family redeemer that Boaz had mentioned happened to pass by, so Boaz said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down.” The man came over and sat down.

2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Then Boaz selected ten of the town elders and asked them to sit there with them.

3 And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that hast come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

Boaz said to the family redeemer, “Naomi who has returned from the country of Moab is selling the piece of land that belonged to Elimelech, our relative.

4 And I thought to tell thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

I decided I should tell you in case you want to buy it here in the presence of these elders of the people. If you want to redeem it, then go ahead. But it you don't, then tell me so I'll know, because you are first in line to redeem it, and I'm next.” “I want to redeem it,” said the family redeemer.

5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

“When you buy the land from Naomi you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, so you can marry her and have children with her to ensure the man's line continues,” Boaz explained.

6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

“Well, I can't do it then,” the family redeemer replied. “If I were to redeem it, that could jeopardize what I already own. You redeem it for yourself, because I can't.”

7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for confirming all things; a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

(Now during those times it was the custom in Israel to confirm the action of family redeemer, property transfer, or any similar legal matter by removing a sandal and handing it over. This was the way of validating a transaction in Israel.)

8 Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thyself. So he drew off his shoe.

So the family redeemer took off his sandal and told Boaz, “You buy it.”

9 And Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people present, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion.

10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, as my wife. By having children who may inherit his property his name will be kept alive in his family and in his home town. You are witnesses of this today.”

11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that hath come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

The elders and all the people present at the town gate said, “Yes, we are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah who between them gave birth to the people of Israel. May you become prosperous in Ephrathah, and famous in Bethlehem.

12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

May your descendants the Lord gives you through this young woman become like the descendants of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah.”

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Boaz took Ruth home, and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord arranged for her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.

14 And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, who hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

The women of the town came to Naomi and said, “Praise the Lord, for today he didn't leave you without a family redeemer by giving you this grandson—may he become famous throughout Israel.

15 And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thy old age: for thy daughter in law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.

He will give you a new lease of life and provide for you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better than seven sons to you, has given birth to him.”

16 And Naomi took the child, and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.

Naomi picked up the child and hugged him. She looked after him like her own son.

17 And the women her neighbours gave him a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The neighbor women named him Obed, saying “Naomi now has a son!” He was the father of Jesse who was the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

This is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron.

19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab.

20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed.

22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.