Ruth, 4

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

1. Meanwhile Boaz went to the town gate and sat there waiting for the closer relative about whom he had spoken to Ruth. When he saw him coming, he called him by name and said, "Come here and sit down." And so he did.

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

2. Boaz picked out ten from the city elders and asked them to sit with them, which they did.

3. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which [was] our brother Elimelech's:

3. Then he said to the other man who also had right of redemption, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

4. And I thought to advertise 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] beside thee; and I [am] after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].

4. I thought of bringing this matter to you before our elders here, because as the closer kin you have more right to lay claim to it. But if you have no wish to redeem it, let me know because I am next to you in line." The man replied, "I am willing to put in my claim. I will redeem it."

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.

5. Boaz continued, "If you buy the land from Naomi, you will also have to take the Moabite Ruth, widow of the late heir, and her sons will inherit the name and the land of the dead."

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

6. The man said, "Then I cannot redeem it, because I might endanger my own estate. Redeem it yourself."

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

7. It used to be the custom in Israel that for a contract of redemption or exchange to become binding, one party had to take off his sandal and give it to the other. This act legalized transactions.

8. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy [it] for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

8. So the man took off his sandal and said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself."

9. And Boaz said unto the elders, and [unto] 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.

9. Boaz turned to the elders and all those present. "This day you are witnesses that I buy from Naomi all the holdings of Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon.

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.

10. I also take Mahlon's widow, Ruth the Moabite, as my wife to raise up a family for her late husband, so that the name of the dead will be restored to his inheritance and be present among his brothers when they gather at the gate of his town. Do you witness 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 is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

11. The elders and all those at the gate answered, "We witness. May Yahweh make the woman coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah and be of good standing in Bethlehem.

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

12. And through the offspring Yahweh will give you by this woman, may your house become like that of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah."

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

13. So Ruth was taken by Boaz and became his wife. Yahweh made her conceive and give birth to a son.

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

14. The women said to Naomi, "Blessed be Yahweh who has provided you today with an heir. May he become famous in Israel!

15. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

15. He will be your comfort and stay in your old age, for he is born of a daughter-in-law who loves you and is worth more than seven sons."

16. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

16. Naomi took the child as her own and became his nurse.

17. And the women her neighbours gave it 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.

17. And the women of the neighborhood gave him his name, saying, "A son has been born for Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, who was David's father.

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

18. This, then, is Perez's family line: Perez was the father of Hezron,

19. And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

19. Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab,

20. And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

20. Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon,

21. And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

21. Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed,

22. And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

22. Obed of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.