Ruth, 3

1. Her mother-in-law Naomi then said, 'Daughter, is it not my duty to see you happily settled?

1. Then Na'omi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek a home for you, that it may be well with you?

2. And Boaz, the man with whose work-women you were, is he not our kinsman? Tonight he will be winnowing the barley on the threshing-floor.

2. Now is not Bo'az our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

3. So wash and perfume yourself, put on your cloak and go down to the threshing-floor. Don't let him recognise you while he is still eating and drinking.

3. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

4. But when he lies down, take note where he lies, then go and turn back the covering at his feet and lie down yourself. He will tell you what to do.'

4. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do."

5. Ruth said, 'I shall do everything you tell me.'

5. And she replied, "All that you say I will do."

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

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

7. When Boaz had finished eating and drinking, he went off happily and lay down beside the pile of barley. Ruth then quietly went, turned back the covering at his feet and lay down.

7. And when Bo'az had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8. In the middle of the night, he woke up with a shock and looked about him; and there lying at his feet was a woman.

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

9. 'Who are you?' he said; and she replied, 'I am your servant Ruth. Spread the skirt of your cloak over your servant for you have the right of redemption over me.'

9. He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant; spread your skirt over your maidservant, for you are next of kin."

10. 'May Yahweh bless you, daughter,' he said, 'for this second act of faithful love of yours is greater than the first, since you have not run after young men, poor or rich.

10. And he said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; you have made this last kindness greater than the first, in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.

11. Don't be afraid, daughter, I shall do everything you ask, since the people at the gate of my town all know that you are a woman of great worth.

11. And now, my daughter, do not fear, I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of worth.

12. But, though it is true that I have the right of redemption over you, you have a kinsman closer than myself.

12. And now it is true that I am a near kinsman, yet there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13. Stay here for tonight and, in the morning, if he wishes to exercise his right over you, very well, let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to do so, then as Yahweh lives, I shall redeem you. Lie here till morning.'

13. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will do the part of the next of kin for you, well; let him do it; but if he is not willing to do the part of the next of kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will do the part of the next of kin for you. Lie down until the morning."

14. So she lay at his feet till morning, but got up before the hour when one man can recognise another; and he thought, 'It must not be known that this woman came to the threshing-floor.'

14. So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."

15. He then said, 'Let me have the cloak you are wearing, hold it out!' She held it out while he put six measures of barley into it and then loaded it on to her; and off she went to the town.

15. And he said, "Bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and laid it upon her; then she went into the city.

16. When Ruth got home, her mother-in-law asked her, 'How did things go with you, daughter?' She then told her everything that the man had done for her.

16. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did you fare, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her,

17. 'He gave me these six measures of barley and said, "You must not go home empty-handed to your mother-in-law." '

17. saying, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, `You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"

18. Naomi said, 'Do nothing, daughter, until you see how things have gone; I am sure he will not rest until he has settled the matter this very day.'

18. She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today."