Ruth Meets Boaz at the Threshing Floor

¹ Now Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek for you security that things may be good for you?

² So then, is not Boaz our kinsman whose maidservants you were with? Look, he is winnowing the barley at the threshing floor tonight.

³ Wash, anoint yourself, put your clothing on, and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking.

⁴ And when he lies, take notice of the place where he lies. And you shall go and ⌞uncover⌟¹ his feet and lie down, and he shall tell you what to do.”

1. Literally “open”

⁵ And she said to her, “I will do all that you say.”

⁶ And she went down to the threshing floor and did all that her mother-in-law had instructed her.

⁷ And Boaz ate and drank until his heart was ⌞merry⌟¹ and then he came to lie at the end of the grain heap. And she came in quietly and ⌞uncovered⌟² his feet and lay down.

1. Literally “good”
2. Literally “opened”

⁸ And it happened in the middle of the night the man was startled and he reached out and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

⁹ And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread ⌞your garment⌟¹ over your servant because you are a redeemer.”

1. Literally “your wing”

¹⁰ And he said, “You are blessed by Yahweh my daughter. You did better in this last kindness than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

¹¹ And so then my daughter, do not be afraid. All that you ask I will do for you, for the entire assembly of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.

¹² Now truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me.

¹³ ⌞Stay tonight,⌟¹ and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good; but if he is not willing to redeem, ⌞then as Yahweh lives,⌟² I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

1. Literally “Spend the night tonight”
2. Literally “the life of Yahweh”

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning and got up before ⌞anyone could recognize each other⌟.¹ And he said, “It must not be known that ⌞you⌟² came to the threshing floor.”

1. Literally “a man could recognize his friend”
2. Literally “the woman”

¹⁵ And he said, “Bring the cloak that is on you and ⌞hold it out⌟.”¹ And she held it out and he measured six measures of barley and put it on her cloak. Then she went into the city.

1. Literally “hold on her”

¹⁶ And she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “⌞How did it go for you,⌟¹ my daughter?” And she told her all that the man did for her.

1. Literally “who are you?”

¹⁷ And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘You shall not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”

¹⁸ And she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”