Ruth 3:1-18
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My
daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so
that it may be well with you. 2Now here is our
kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have
been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at
the threshing floor. 3Now wash and anoint yourself,
and put on your best clothes and go down to the
threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to
the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4When 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.” 5
She said to her, “All that
you tell me I will do.”
6
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just
as her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7When Boaz
had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented
mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of
grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his
feet, and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled,
and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a
woman! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered,
“I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your
servant, for you are next-of-kin.” 10He said, “May you
be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance
of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not
gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And
now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you
all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people
know that you are a worthy woman. 12But now,
though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is
another kinsman more closely related than I. 13Remain
this night, and in the morning, if he will act as nextof-kin for you, good; let him do it. If he is not willing
to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I
will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the
morning.”
14So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up
before one person could recognize another; for he
said, “It must not be known that the woman came to
the threshing floor.” 15Then he said, “Bring the cloak
you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and
he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on
her back; then he went into the city. 16She came to her
mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with
you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man
had done for her, 17saying, “He gave me these six
measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to
your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18She replied,
“Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter
turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the
matter today.”