10 “The Lord bless you,e my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier:f You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.g 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family,h there is another who is more closely related thani I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer,j good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord livesk I will do it.l Lie here until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.m”n

15 He also said, “Bring me the shawlo you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then hec went back to town.

16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”

18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”p