1Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I try to find a secure home for you, where you will be well off?
2Now, isn’t Boaz our relative, whose female servants you were with? Look, he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight.”
3“Therefore, wash yourself, put on perfume, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
4When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
5Ruth replied, “I will do everything you say.”
6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had told her.
7When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was feeling good, he went to lie down at the edge of the pile of grain. Ruth came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8Around midnight, the man was startled and turned over. To his surprise, a woman was lying at his feet.
9He asked, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Please take me under your protection, because you are a family guardian.”
10He said, “May Yahweh bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than you did before, because you haven’t gone after younger men, whether poor or rich.
11Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do everything you ask, because everyone in my town knows you are a good woman.
12It is true that I am a close relative. However, there is another relative who is even closer than I am.
13Stay here tonight. In the morning, if he is willing to fulfill the duty of a close relative for you, then good, let him do it. But if he is not willing, then I promise, as Yahweh lives, I will do that duty for you. Lie down now until morning.”
14So she lay at his feet until morning, and then she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. He had said, “No one must know that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15Then he said, “Bring me the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” She held it, and he measured out six scoops of barley and put it in the cloak. Then he went into the town.
16When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.
17She added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley, saying, ‘You must not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you see what happens. The man will not rest until he settles this matter today.”