1 Then Naomi her mother-in-lawsaid to her, "My daughter, shall I not seeksecurity for you, that it may be well with you?
2
"Now is not Boaz1our kinsman, with whosemaids you were? Behold, he winnowsbarley at the threshingfloortonight.
3
"Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and godown to the threshingfloor; but do not make yourself known to the manuntil he has finishedeating and drinking.
4
"It shall be when he liesdown, that you shall notice the placewhere* he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and liedown; then he will tell you what you shall do."
6
So she wentdown to the threshingfloor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7
When Boaz had eaten and drunk and 3his heart was merry, he went to liedown at the end of the heap of grain; and she camesecretly, and uncovered his feet and laydown.
8
It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bentforward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9
He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your coveringover your maid, for you are a closerelative."
10
Then he said, "4May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your lastkindness to be betterthan the first by not goingafteryoungmen, whetherpoororrich.
11
"Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever* you ask, for all my people in the cityknow that you are 5a woman of excellence.
12
"Now it is true I am a closerelative; however, there is a relativecloserthan I.
13
"Remain this night, and when morningcomes, 6if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, 7as the LORDlives. Liedownuntilmorning."
14
So she lay at his feetuntilmorning and rosebeforeone could recognizeanother; and he said, "8Let it not be known that the womancame to the threshingfloor."
15
Again he said, "Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it." So she held it, and he measuredsix measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
16
When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17
She said, "Thesesix measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-lawempty-handed.' "
18
Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until* you knowhow the matterturns out; for the man will not restuntil* he has settled it today."