Ruth 3:7–15

⁷After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, ^che went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley. Then she went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

⁸At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! ⁹So he asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak ^dover me, ^efor you are a family redeemer.” ^f

¹⁰Then he said, “May the Lord bless you, ^gmy daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, ^hbecause you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, ⁱsince all the people in my town ^jknow that you are a woman of noble character. ^k12Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. ¹³Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. ^lLet him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, ^mI will. Now lie down until morning.”

¹⁴So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. ⁿThen Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a ^owoman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she ^pwent into the town.