1
Now Boazwent up to the gate and satdownthere, and behold, 1the acloserelative of whomBoazspoke was passing by, so he said, "Turnaside, bfriend , sitdownhere." And he turnedaside and satdown.
2
He tooktenmen of the 2elders of the city and said, "Sitdownhere." So they satdown.
3
Then he said to the cclosestrelative, "Naomi, who has comeback from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land3which belonged to our brotherElimelech.
4
"So I thought to dinform you, saying, '4Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but ifenot, tell me that I may know ; for 5there is noone but you to redeem it, and I am after you.' " And he said, "I will redeem it."
5
Then Boazsaid, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquireRuth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order 6to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."
67The fclosestrelativesaid, "I cannotredeem it for myself, because I would gjeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannotredeem it."
7
Now this was 8the custom in formertimes in Israelconcerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirmanymatter : a manremoved his sandal and gave it to another ; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
8
So the hclosestrelativesaid to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he removed his sandal.
9
Then Boazsaid to the elders and all the people, "You are witnessestoday that I have bought from the hand of Naomiall that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10"Moreover, I have acquiredRuth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so 9that the name of the deceased will not be cutoff from his brothers or from the icourt of his birth place ; you are witnessestoday."
11All the peoplewho were in the jcourt, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORDmake the woman who is coming into your home10like Rachel and Leah, both of whombuilt the house of Israel ; and may you achievekwealth in Ephrathah and lbecomefamous in Bethlehem.
12
"Moreover, may your house be like the house of 11PerezwhomTamarbore to Judah, through the moffspringwhich the LORD will give you by thisyoungwoman."
13
So BoaztookRuth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And 12the LORDnenabled her to conceive, and she gavebirth to a son.
14
Then the 13womensaid to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORDwho has not left you without a oredeemertoday, and may his namepbecomefamous in Israel.
15
"May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your oldage ; for your daughter-in-law, wholoves you q14and is better to you thansevensons, has givenbirth to him."
16
Then Naomitook the childrand laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
17
The neighborwomengave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi !" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18
Now these are the generations of Perez : 15to Perezswas bornHezron,
19
and to Hezron was bornRam, and to Ram, Amminadab,
20
and to Amminadab was bornNahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon,
21
and to Salmon was bornBoaz, and to Boaz, Obed,
22
and to Obed was bornJesse, and to Jesse, David.
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