Ruth 3:7–15

⁷And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and ^ehis heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

⁸Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. ⁹And he said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. ^fTake ²your maidservant under your wing, for you are ^ga ³close relative.”

¹⁰Then he said, ^h“Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than ⁱat the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are ^ja virtuous woman. ¹²Now it is true that I am a ^kclose relative; however, ^lthere is a relative closer than I. ¹³Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will ^mperform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, ⁿas the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.”

¹⁴So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, ^o“Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵Also he said, “Bring the ⁴shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then ⁵she went into the city.