1Meanwhile, Boaz went to the town gate and sat down there. Just then, the close relative Boaz had mentioned came by. Boaz called out to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” So the man came and sat down.
2Boaz gathered ten of the town elders and said to them, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3Then Boaz said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has returned from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
4I thought I should let you know and suggest that you buy it in front of these people sitting here and in front of the elders of my people. If you want to buy it back, then do so. But if you don't want to, tell me so I will know. Because you are the first in line to buy it, and I am next.” The relative replied, “I will buy it.”
5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you must also marry Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to continue the family name of the dead man on his inheritance.”
6The close relative said, “I cannot buy it back because it would jeopardize my own inheritance. You take my right to buy it back, because I cannot.”
7In earlier times in Israel, to make a transaction concerning property legal and binding, one person would take off his sandal and give it to the other. This was the way agreements were confirmed in Israel.
8So the close relative said to Boaz, “You buy it yourself,” and he took off his sandal.
9Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, as well as everything that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, to be my wife. This is to continue the name of the dead man on his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the gate of his town. Today you are witnesses.”
11All the people at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built the family of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
12May your family be like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the children Yahweh will give you through this young woman.”
13So Boaz married Ruth. He slept with her, and Yahweh allowed her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.
14The women said to Naomi, "Praise Yahweh, who has not left you today without a close relative to care for you. May the child's name become famous in Israel."
15He will bring new life to you and support you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law, who loves you, and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
16Naomi took the child, held him close, and became his nurse.
17The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.
18This is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19Hezron was the father of Ram, and Ram was the father of Amminadab.
20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
21Salmon was the father of Boaz, and Boaz was the father of Obed.
22Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.