Our Lord & Savior

The Book of Ruth: Part 2

Ruth's Redemption Assured

Ruth 3:1-18

1 Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, so that you may prosper?

2 Now, is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? Look, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

3 Therefore, wash and anoint yourself, put on your best attire, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."

5 And she replied, "I will do everything you say."

6 She descended to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

7 After Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was content, he went to sleep at the end of the grain pile. She approached quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9 He asked, "Who are you?" And she replied, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your cloak over your servant, for you are a family redeemer."

10 He said, "May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor."

11 "Now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do for you all that you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

12 It is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning, if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor."

15 He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed it on her. Then she went back to town.

16 When she returned to her mother-in-law, she asked, "Who are you, my daughter?" And she recounted everything the man had done for her.

17 She added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Do not return to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"

18 Then she advised, "Stay put, my daughter, until you learn how the matter resolves itself; for the man will not rest until he has settled the matter today."