English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
1
One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, "My dear daughter, isn't it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life?
2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
2
And isn't Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young women you've been working? Maybe it's time to make our move. Tonight is the night of Boaz's barley harvest at the threshing floor.
3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
3
"Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the threshing floor. But don't let him know you're there until the party is well under way and he's had plenty of food and drink.
4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do. ”
4
When you see him slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage. Then wait and see what he says. He'll tell you what to do."
5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do. ”
5
Ruth said, "If you say so, I'll do it, just as you've told me."
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.
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She went down to the threshing floor and put her mother-in-law's plan into action.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
7
Boaz had a good time, eating and drinking his fill - he felt great. Then he went off to get some sleep, lying down at the end of a stack of barley. Ruth quietly followed; she lay down to signal her availability for marriage.
8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!
8
In the middle of the night the man was suddenly startled and sat up. Surprise! This woman asleep at his feet!
9 He said, “Who are you? ” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer. ”
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He said, "And who are you?" She said, "I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing. You're my close relative, you know, in the circle of covenant redeemers - you do have the right to marry me."
10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.
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He said, "God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around.
11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
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And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a thing; I'll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are - a real prize!
12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
12
You're right, I am a close relative to you, but there is one even closer than I am.
13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning. ”
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So stay the rest of the night. In the morning, if he wants to exercise his customary rights and responsibilities as the closest covenant redeemer, he'll have his chance; but if he isn't interested, as God lives, I'll do it. Now go back to sleep until morning."
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor. ”
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Ruth slept at his feet until dawn, but she got up while it was still dark and wouldn't be recognized. Then Boaz said to himself, "No one must know that Ruth came to the threshing floor."
15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out. ” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.
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So Boaz said, "Bring the shawl you're wearing and spread it out." She spread it out and he poured it full of barley, six measures, and put it on her shoulders. Then she went back to town.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter? ” Then she told her all that the man had done for her,
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When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "And how did things go, my dear daughter?"
17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law. ’”
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Ruth told her everything that the man had done for her, adding, "And he gave me all this barley besides - six quarts! He told me, 'You can't go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law!'"
18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today. ”
18
Naomi said, "Sit back and relax, my dear daughter, until we find out how things turn out; that man isn't going to fool around. Mark my words, he's going to get everything wrapped up today."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.