[1]THEN Naomi said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? [2]And, behold, Boaz is our kinsman, with whose maidens you were; and behold, he is going to winnow barley tonight in the threshing floor. [3]Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best garments, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not show yourself to him until he has finished eating and drinking. [4]And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall remember the place where he lies, and you shall draw near and lie down near his feet; and he will tell you what you shall do. [5]And she said to her, All that you say to me I will do [6]So she went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law had told her. [7]And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went and lay at the side of the threshing floor; and while he was in deep sleep in the threshing floor, she came secretly and lifted the end of his robe and lay down near his feet. [8]And it came to pass at midnight that the man woke up and was startled when he saw a woman lying at his feet. [9]And he said to her, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth, your handmaid; cover therefore your maidservant with the end of your robe, for you are a near kinsman. [10]And Boaz said to her, Blessed be you of the LORD, my daughter; for you have shown more kindness in the latter days than at the beginning of your life in that you have not gone after young men, whether rich or poor. [11]And now, my daughter, fear not; for I will do for you all that you ask of me; for all the family of our people know that you are a virtuous woman. [12]And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however, there is another kinsman nearer than I. [13]Now, tarry this night and lodge here till dawn, and it shall be in the morning, if he will perform to you the part of a kinsman, well, let him do it; but if he is unwilling to do the part of a kinsman to you, then, as the LORD lives, if he does not do the part of a next of kin to you, I will do the part of a kinsman to you; then he said to her, Lie down until the morning [14]So she lay at his feet until dawn; and she rose up early in the morning while it was dark, before one could recognize another. And she said to him, Let it not be known that I came down to you to the threshing floor. [15]And Boaz said to her, Spread your mantle; and she spread it, and he measured six measures of barley, lifted it up, and laid it on her back; and she went into the city. [16]And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said to her, Who are you, my daughter? And she answered, I am Ruth, and she told her all that Boaz had done for her; [17]And how he had given her six measures of barley, and had said to her, Go not empty-handed to your mother-in-law. [18]Then her mother-in-law said to her, Sit still, my daughter, until you know the outcome; for the man will not rest until he brings the case to judgment today
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Author: George M. Lamsa
Source: studybible.info
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