Ruth 3

3 ¹ Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek a home for you, where you will be well provided for?

At the Threshing Floor

² Now Boaz, whose young women you have been with, is he not our relative? Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. ³ So wash, put on perfume, dress in your cloak, and go down 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 note of the place where he lies. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will tell you what to do."

⁵ And Ruth said to her, "All that you say I will do." ⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had told her.

⁷ When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was content, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

⁸ In the middle of the night the man was startled and turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet!

⁹ "Who are you?" he asked. And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the corner of your garment over your servant, for you are a redeemer." ¹ 1 v9 Spreading a garment's corner over someone was a request for marriage and protection.

¹⁰ And he said, "May you be blessed by the Sovereign Father, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, in not going after the young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you all that you ask, for the whole assembly of my people knows that you are a woman of noble character. ¹² Now it is true that I am a redeemer, yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you—good, let him redeem. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then as surely as the Sovereign Father lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until morning."

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, but she got up before it was light enough for anyone to be recognized, for he said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor." ¹⁵ Then he said, "Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it out, and he measured out six portions of barley and placed it on her. Then he went into the city.

¹⁶ When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything the man had done for her,

¹⁷ and she said, "He gave me these six portions of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"

¹⁸ Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."