Ruth 3:7–15

⁷When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits,^a he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile.^b Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

⁹“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment^c over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer^bd of our family.”

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. ¹¹And 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. ¹³Stay 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 lives^k I will do it.^l Lie here until morning.”

¹⁴So 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

¹⁵He also said, “Bring me the shawl^o 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 he^c went back to town.