Naomi’s Plan to Give Rest to Her Daughter-in-Law, Ruth |
Ruth 3:1-18 The Book of Ruth [in Smaller Chunks] |
Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to [Ruth,] My daughter, shouldn’t I seek rest for you, [so] things [go] well for you? Isn’t Boaz our [close relative,] with whose [maidens you’re with?] |
[See,] he [is separating the chaff] from the barley tonight in the threshing floor. Therefore, wash & [perfume yourself & put on your best clothing] & [go] down to the floor, but don’t make yourself known until [after Boaz] has [finished] eating & drinking. |
It shall [happen,] when [Boaz] lies down, you shall go in & uncover his feet & lay down & he will tell you what you shall do. [Ruth] said to [Naomi,] I will do all that you [said] to me & [Ruth] did according to [all] her mother-in-law [requested of] her. |
[After] Boaz had eaten & drunk & his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of a heap of corn & [Ruth] came softly & uncovered the feet of [Boaz] & laid down. |
It [happened] at midnight, [Boaz] was [startled] & turned & [saw] a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who [are] you? She answered, I am Ruth, your handmaid. Therefore, spread your [robe] over your handmaid, since you [are] a [close relative]. |
[Boaz] said, Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter: for you have [shown] more kindness, [in the end than,] the beginning, [since] you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich. |
Now, my daughter, don’t be [fearful]. I will do [for] you all you [request,] for all the city of my people know you are a virtuous woman. It’s true that I am a [close relative, but] there is a [closer relative than me.] |
[Stay] this night & in the morning, if he will perform a [close relative’s] part [for] you, well, let him do [so.] But if he won’t do the part of a [close relative for] you, then I will do the part of a [close relative for] you, as the Lord lives. |
Lie down until the morning. [Ruth] lay at [the feet of Boaz] until morning & rose up before one could know another. Boaz said, Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the [threshing] floor. |
Bring the [shawl] you have on you & hold it & when she held it, [Boaz poured out] 6 measures of barley & laid it on her [shawl] & she went into the city. When [Ruth] came to her mother-in-law, [Naomi] said, [How] are you, my daughter? |
Ruth said, [Boaz] gave me these 6 measures of barley & said to me, Don’t go [away] empty [handed] to your mother-in-law. Then [Naomi] said, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will [be determined:] for [Boaz] will not rest until he has finished [this] thing [today.] |