Lùdéjì 3

1 Lùdé de pópo ná é mǐ duì tā shuō , nǚér a , wǒ bùdàng wèi nǐ zhǎo gè ān shēn zhī chù , shǐ nǐ xiǎng fú ma .

2 Nǐ yǔ Bōesī de shǐnǚ cháng zaì yī chù , Bōesī bù shì wǒmen de qīnzú ma . tā jīnyè zaì cháng shàng bǒ dàmaì ,

3 Nǐ yào shù yù mò gāo , huàn shàngyī fù , xià dào cháng shàng , què búyào shǐ nà rén rèn chū nǐ lái . nǐ dĕng tā chī hē wán le ,

4 Dào tā shuì de shíhou , nǐ kàn zhún tā shuì de dìfang , jiù jìn qù xiān kāi tā jiǎo shàng de beì , tǎng wò zaì nàli , tā bì gàosu nǐ suǒ dàngzuò de shì .

5 Lùdé shuō , fán nǐ suǒ fēnfu de , wǒ bì zūnxíng .

6 Lùdé jiù xià dào cháng shàng , zhào tā pópo suǒ fēnfu tāde ér xíng .

7 Bōesī chī hē wán le , xīnli huān chàng , jiù qù shuì zaì maì duī pángbiān . Lùdé biàn qiāoqiāo dì lái xiān kāi tā jiǎo shàng de beì , tǎng wò zaì nàli .

8 Dào le yèbàn , nà rén hūrán jīng xǐng , fān guō shēn lái , búliào yǒu nǚzi tǎng zaì tāde jiǎo xià .

9 Tā jiù shuō , nǐ shì shuí . huídá shuō , wǒ shì nǐde bìnǚ Lùdé . qiú nǐ yòng nǐde yī jīn zhēgaì wǒ , yīnwei nǐ shì wǒ yī gè zhì jìn de qīnshǔ .

10 Bōesī shuō , nǚér a , yuàn nǐ méng Yēhéhuá cì fú . nǐ mòhòu de ēn bǐ xiānqián gèng dà . yīnwei shàonián rén wúlùn pín fù , nǐ dōu méiyǒu gēn cóng .

11 Nǚér a , xiànzaì búyào jùpà , fán nǐ suǒ shuō de , wǒ bì zhào zhe xíng . wǒ bĕn chéng de rén dōu zhīdào nǐ shì gè xián dé de nǚzi .

12 Wǒ shízaì shì nǐ yī gè zhì jìn de qīnshǔ , zhǐshì hái yǒu yī gèrén bǐ wǒ gèng jìn .

13 Nǐ jīnyè zaì zhèlǐ zhù sù , míng zǎo tā ruò kĕn wèi nǐ jǐn qīnshǔ de bĕn fēn . jiù yóu tā ba . tǎngruò bù kĕn , wǒ zhǐ zhe yǒngshēng de Yēhéhuá qǐshì , wǒ bì wèi nǐ jǐn le bĕn fēn , nǐ zhǐguǎn tǎng dào tiān liàng .

14 Lùdé biàn zaì tā jiǎo xià tǎng dào tiān kuaì liàng . rén bǐcǐ bùnéng biàn rèn de shíhou jiù qǐlai le . Bōesī shuō , bùkĕ shǐ rén zhīdào yǒu nǚzi dào cháng shàng lái .

15 Yòu duì Lùdé shuō , dǎkāi nǐ suǒ pī de waìyī . tā dǎkāi le , Bōesī jiù cuō le liù bòji dàmaì , bāng tā káng zaì jiān shàng , tā biàn jìn chéng qù le .

16 Lùdé huí dào pópo nàli , pópo shuō , nǚér a , zĕnmeyàng le . Lùdé jiù jiāng nà rén xiàng tā suǒ xíng de shùshuō le yī biàn .

17 Yòu shuō , nà rén gĕi le wǒ liù bòji dàmaì , duì wǒ shuō , nǐ bùkĕ kōng shǒu huí qù jiàn nǐde pópo .

18 Pópo shuō , nǚér a , nǐ zhǐguǎn ān zuò dĕnghòu , kàn zhè shì zĕnyàng chéngjiù , yīnwei nà rén jīnrì bù bàn chéng zhè shì bì bù xiūxi .

Lùdéjì 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The directions given to Ruth by Naomi. (1-5) Boaz acknowledges the duty of a kinsman. (6-13) Ruth's return to her mother-in-law. (14-18)

Verses 1-5 The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. Therefore it should be engaged in with great seriousness, with earnest prayers for direction, for the blessing of God, and with regard to his precepts. Parents should carefully advise their children in this important concern, that it may be well with them as to their souls. Be it always remembered, That is best for us which is best for our souls. The course Naomi advised appears strange to us; but it was according to the laws and usages of Israel. If the proposed measure had borne the appearance of evil, Naomi would not have advised it. Law and custom gave Ruth, who was now proselyted to the true religion, a legal claim upon Boaz. It was customary for widows to assert this claim, ( Deuteronomy 25:5-10 ) . But this is not recorded for imitation in other times, and is not to be judged by modern rules. And if there had been any evil in it, Ruth was a woman of too much virtue and too much sense to have listened to it.

Verses 6-13 What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. Being a judge of Israel, Boaz would tell Ruth what she should do; also whether he had the right of redemption, and what methods must be taken, and what rites used, in order to accomplishing her marriage with him or another person. The conduct of Boaz calls for the highest praise. He attempted not to take advantage of Ruth; he did not disdain her as a poor, destitute stranger, nor suspect her of any ill intentions. He spoke honourably of her as a virtuous woman, made her a promise, and as soon as the morning arrived, sent her away with a present to her mother-in-law. Boaz made his promise conditional, for there was a kinsman nearer than he, to whom the right of redemption belonged.

Verses 14-18 Ruth had done all that was fit for her to do, she must patiently wait the event. Boaz, having undertaken this matter, would be sure to manage it well. Much more reason have true believers to cast their care on God, because he has promised to care for them. Our strength is to sit still, ( Isaiah 30:7 ) . This narrative may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ: He is our near Kinsman; having taken our nature upon him. He has the right to redeem. Let us seek to receive from him his directions: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? ( Acts 9:6 ) . He will never blame us as doing this unseasonably. And let us earnestly desire and seek the same rest for our children and friends, that it may be well with them also.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 3

In this chapter we have a proposal of Naomi to Ruth, with advice and directions to get Boaz for her husband, Ru 2:1-4. Ruth's obedience to the instructions she gave her, Ru 2:5-7, the notice Boaz took of her, and the conversation that passed between them, Ru 2:8-13 the dismission of her in the morning to her mother-in-law with a gift, to whom she returned, and acquainted her with what had passed, Ru 2:14-18.