Chapter 3

  Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 

  Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor. 

  Wash yourself therefore, and anoint you, and put your clothing on you, and get you down to the threshing floor, but don't make yourself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 

  It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay you down; and he will tell you what you shall do. 

  She said to her, All that you say I will do. 

  She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 

  When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 

  It happened at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 

  He said, Who are you? She answered, I am Ruth your handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman. 

  He said, Blessed be you of Yahweh, my daughter: you have showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn't follow young men, whether poor or rich. 

  Now, my daughter, don't be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman. 

  Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I. 

  Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform to you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to you, as Yahweh lives: lie down until the morning. 

  She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor. 

  He said, Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city. 

  When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter? She told her all that the man had done to her. 

  She said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he said, 'Don't go empty to your mother-in-law.' 

  Then said she, 'Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day.'