1 Then Naomi {naomi: Ruth’s mother-in-law} said to her, “My daughter, should I not look for a place of rest {manoach: lasting security} for you, so that you may prosper?”
2 Now then, is not Boaz our relative {moda': close kinship}, the one whose young women you were with? Look—tonight he is winnowing the barley {seorim: spring grain} at the threshing floor.
3 So wash yourself and anoint yourself {sakhat: ritual oiling}, put on your garments {simlah: outer clothing}, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not let the man recognize you until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 And when he lies down, take note {yada: focused perception} of the place where he rests; then enter, uncover his feet {margelotav: lower extremities}, lie down, and he shall tell you what you must do.
5 And Ruth {Ruth: Moabite daughter-in-law} said to her, “All that you say to me, I will do {eeseh: committed obedience}.”
6 She went down to the threshing floor {goren: barley-winnowing area} and did according to all that her mother-in-law {chamotah: wife’s mother} had commanded her.
7 Then Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was glad {vayitav: became content}, and he went to lie down at the end of the grain heap. Ruth came quietly {ballat: in secret}, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 And it happened in the middle {bachatsi: temporal midpoint} of the night that the man was startled {vayechrad: sudden fright}, and he turned; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread your wing {kenaf: protective covering} over your maidservant, for you are a redeemer {goel: kinsman with duty to rescue}.”
10 And he said, “Blessed are you by the LORD {YHWH, Blessing Giver}, my daughter. You have made your kindness {chasdekh: covenant loyalty} in the latter instance greater than in the former by not going after the young men, whether poor or rich.”
11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. All that you say I will do for you, for all the people at the town gate {sha‘ar: civic assembly} know that you are a woman of valor {chayil: moral excellence}.
12 And now, indeed, it is true that I am a redeemer {go’ēl: kinsman-redeemer}; but there is also another redeemer {go’ēl: nearest relative} who is nearer than I am.
13 Stay the night, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good—let him redeem {ga’al: kinsman-redeemer}; but if he does not desire to redeem you, then I myself will redeem you—by the life of the LORD {YHWH, Oath Witness}. Lie down until the morning.
14 So she lay at his feet {margelotav: close at his feet} until the morning, and she arose before one person could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman has come to the threshing floor {goren: grain processing area}.”
15 Then he said, “Bring the shawl {mitpachat: outer garment} that is upon you and hold it out.” She held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid them on her. Then he went into the city {‘ir: local center}.
16 She came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “How did it go, my daughter {biti: term of affection}?” Then she told her all that the man {haish: Boaz, the provider} had done for her.
17 And she said, “These six measures {seorim: barley units} he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘Do not come to your mother-in-law empty-handed {reikam: without offering}.’”
18 And she said, “Sit {shevi: await word}, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out, for the man will not rest {yishqot: remain settled} unless he completes the matter today.”