Ruth 3  Lexham English Bible

Ruth Meets Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 Now Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek for you security that things may be good for you? ² So then, is not Boaz our kinsman whose maidservants you were with? Look, he is winnowing the barley at the threshing floor tonight. ³ Wash, anoint yourself, put your clothing on, and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking. ⁴ And when he lies, take notice of the place where he lies. And you shall go and uncover^[a] his feet and lie down, and he shall tell you what to do.” ⁵ And she said to her, “I will do all that you say.”

⁶ And she went down to the threshing floor and did all that her mother-in-law had instructed her. ⁷ And Boaz ate and drank until his heart was merry^[b] and then he came to lie at the end of the grain heap. And she came in quietly and uncovered^[c] his feet and lay down. ⁸ And it happened in the middle of the night the man was startled and he reached out and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. ⁹ And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your garment^[d] over your servant because you are a redeemer.” ¹⁰ And he said, “You are blessed by Yahweh my daughter. You did better in this last kindness than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And so then my daughter, do not be afraid. All that you ask I will do for you, for the entire assembly of my people knows that you are a worthy woman. ¹² Now truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me. ¹³ Stay tonight,^[e] and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good; but if he is not willing to redeem, then as Yahweh lives,^[f] I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning and got up before anyone could recognize each other.^[g] And he said, “It must not be known that you^[h] came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵ And he said, “Bring the cloak that is on you and hold it out.”^[i] And she held it out and he measured six measures of barley and put it on her cloak. Then she went into the city. ¹⁶ And she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “How did it go for you,^[j] my daughter?” And she told her all that the man did for her. ¹⁷ And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘You shall not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” ¹⁸ And she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”