Ruth 3

Spread Your Covering Over Your Servant

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Naomi Sends Ruth to the Threshing Floor

3:1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “Daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, so that it may go well with you?

3:2Now, is not Boaz our acquaintance, with whose girls you were? Look, he is winnowing the barley on the threshing floor this night.

3:3Wash, anoint yourself, put your clothing on, and go up to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished drinking and eating.

3:4When he lies down, notice the place where he lies. Go in, uncover what is at his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what you should do.”

3:5Ruth said to her, “Everything you say I will do.”

At His Feet in the Night

3:6She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had commanded her.

3:7Boaz ate, and his heart was glad. He went to lie down at a part of the heap. She came secretly and uncovered what was at his feet.

3:8At midnight the man was startled and disturbed, and look, a woman was lying at his feet.

3:9He said, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your slave woman. Spread your garment’s wing over your slave woman, for you are a near kinsman.”

Boaz Promises to Act as Kinsman

3:10Boaz said, “Blessed be you by the Lord God, daughter, because you have made your last mercy greater than the first, by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

3:11Now, daughter, do not fear. Everything you say I will do for you, for the whole tribe of my people knows that you are a woman of strength,

3:12and that I truly am a near kinsman. Yet there is also a near kinsman closer than I.

3:13Lodge for the night. In the morning, if he will act as your next of kin, good; let him do so. But if he is unwilling to act as your next of kin, I will act as your next of kin, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

Six Measures of Barley

3:14She lay at his feet until morning. She arose before a man could recognize his neighbor. Boaz said, “Let it not be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

3:15He said to her, “Bring the wrap that is upon you.” She held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. He entered the city.

3:16Ruth entered to her mother-in-law, who said, “Who are you, daughter?” She told her everything the man had done for her.

3:17She said to her, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, ‘Do not enter empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’”

3:18She said, “Sit, daughter, until you know how the matter will not fall through, for the man will certainly not rest until he finishes the matter today.”

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.