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day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find a secure home for you, where you will be taken care of? 2 Isn’t Boaz our kinsman? Haven’t you been with his young women? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 So wash yourself and put on some perfumed oil. Then go to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, take notice of the place where he is lying. Then go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
5 “I will do everything you have said,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her.
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of grain. Ruth went over quietly, and she uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night the man was startled, and he turned over and discovered there was a woman lying at his feet.
9 “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am Ruth, your maidservant,” she replied. “Spread your cloak over your maidservant, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
10 “Be blessed of the Lord, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness you have shown is greater than even the first kindness. For you have not gone after young men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you all that you ask. All the people in my town know that you are a woman of virtuous character. 12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is another redeemer closer than I. 13 Stay here for the night, then in the morning if he wants to redeem you, then good; let him do it. But if he isn’t willing, then as the Lord lives, I will do it. Now lie here until the morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized. Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 And he said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he poured out six measures of barley into the shawl. Then she went back into the town.
16 Ruth went to her mother-in-law Naomi, who asked her, “How did you go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything that Boaz had done for her. 17 She said, “He also gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed’.”
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what will happen. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”