The Bible

Ruth Chapter 3

¹Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

²Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.

³Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor, but don't make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

⁴When he lies down you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; then he will tell you what you shall do." ⁵She said to her, "All that you say I will do." ⁶She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.

⁷When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid herself down.

⁸At midnight the man was startled and turned, and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

⁹He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman." ¹⁰He said, "Blessed are you by ForeverOne, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn't follow young men, whether poor or rich.

¹¹Now, my daughter, don't be afraid; I will do for you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.

¹²Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.

¹³Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman for you, then I will do the part of a kinsman for you, as ForeverOne lives. Lie down until the morning." ¹⁴She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." ¹⁵He said, "Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it." She held it; and he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city.

¹⁶When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" She told her all that the man had done to her.

¹⁷She said, "He gave me these six [measures] of barley; for he said, 'Don't go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'" ¹⁸Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing today."