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? 2 Now isn't Boaz our kinsman,
with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the
threshing floor. 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint you, and put your
clothing on you, and get you down to the threshing floor, but don't make
yourself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he
shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay you down; and
he will tell you what you shall do. 5 She said to her, All that you say I
will do. 6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all
that her mother-in-law bade 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: and she
came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 It happened at
midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman
lay at his feet. 9 He said, Who are you? She answered, I am Ruth your
handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near
kinsman. 10 He said, Blessed are you by Yahweh, my daughter: you have
shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you
didn't follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, don't
be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people
does know that you are a worthy woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a near
kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Stay this night, and
it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform to you the part of a
kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part
of a kinsman to you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to you, as Yahweh
lives: lie down until the morning. 14 She lay at his feet until the
morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it
not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor. 15 He said, Bring
the mantle that is on you, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six
measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter?
She told her all that the man had done to her. 17 She said, These six
measures of barley gave he me; for he said, "Don't go empty to your
mother-in-law." 18 Then said she, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know
how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished
the thing this day."
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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