Ruth 3Book 8 of 66 · 18 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending

  1. Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest and security for you, so that it may be well with you?
  2. Now is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.
  3. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself with perfumed oil, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
  4. When he lies down, notice the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do."
  5. And she said to her, "I will do everything you say."
  6. So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had instructed her.
  7. After 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 quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
  8. At midnight the man was startled and turned over; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet!
  9. He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a family redeemer."
  10. Then he said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter! You have shown more kindness now than before, in that you did not go after younger men, whether poor or rich.
  11. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
  12. Now it is true that I am a family redeemer; however, there is a redeemer closer than I.
  13. Stay this night, 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 myself. Lie down until morning."
  14. So she lay at his feet until morning, but rose before one could recognize another. Then Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."
  15. Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it out." So she held it out, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
  16. When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "What happened, my daughter?" Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.
  17. She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"
  18. Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out how the matter will go; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."