3:1 At that time, 1 Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure. 2 3:2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. 3 Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 4 3:3 So bathe yourself, 5 rub on some perfumed oil, 6 and get dressed up. 7 Then go down 8 to the threshing floor. But don’t let the man know you’re there until he finishes his meal. 9 3:4 When he gets ready to go to sleep, 10 take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, 11 and lie down 12 beside him. 13 He will tell 14 you what you should do.” 3:5 Ruth replied to Naomi, 15 “I will do everything you have told 16 me 17 to do.” 18
3:6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. 19 3:7 When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. 20 Then Ruth 21 crept up quietly, 22 uncovered his legs, 23 and lay down beside him. 24 3:8 In the middle of the night he was startled 25 and turned over. 26 Now 27 he saw a woman 28 lying beside him! 29 3:9 He said, “Who are you?” 30 She replied, “I am Ruth, your servant. 31 Marry your servant, 32 for you are a guardian of the family interests.” 33 3:10 He said, “May you be rewarded 34 by the Lord, my dear! 35 This act of devotion 36 is greater than what you did before. 37 For you have not sought to marry 38 one of the young men, whether rich or poor. 39 3:11 Now, my dear, don’t worry! 40 I intend to do for you everything you propose, 41 for everyone in the village 42 knows that you are a worthy woman. 43 3:12 Now yes, it is true that 44 I am a guardian, 45 but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am.