Ruth 3

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Her mother-in-law Naomi then said, 'Daughter, is it not my duty to see you happily settled?	1 After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.
2 And Boaz, the man with whose work-women you were, is he not our kinsman? Tonight he wil bewinnowing the barley on the threshing-floor.	2 This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.
3 So wash and perfume yourself, put on your cloak and go down to the threshing-floor. Don't let himrecognise you while he is stil eating and drinking.	3 Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 But when he lies down, take note where he lies, then go and turn back the covering at his feet and lie down yourself. He wil tell you what to do.'	4 And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.
5 Ruth said, 'I shal do everything you tel me.'	5 She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.
6 So she went down to the threshing-floor and did everything her mother-in-law had told her.	6 And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.
7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking, he went off happily and lay down beside the pile of barley.Ruth then quietly went, turned back the covering at his feet and lay down.	7 And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.
8 In the middle of the night, he woke up with a shock and looked about him; and there lying at his feet wasa woman.	8 And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,
9 'Who are you?' he said; and she replied, 'I am your servant Ruth. Spread the skirt of your cloak overyour servant for you have the right of redemption over me.'	9 And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.
10 'May Yahweh bless you, daughter,' he said, 'for this second act of faithful love of yours is greater thanthe first, since you have not run after young men, poor or rich.	10 And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.
11 Don't be afraid, daughter, I shal do everything you ask, since the people at the gate of my town allknow that you are a woman of great worth.	11 Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 But, though it is true that I have the right of redemption over you, you have a kinsman closer thanmyself.	12 Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
13 Stay here for tonight and, in the morning, if he wishes to exercise his right over you, very wel , let himredeem you. But if he does not wish to do so, then as Yahweh lives, I shal redeem you. Lie here til morning.'	13 Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.
14 So she lay at his feet til morning, but got up before the hour when one man can recognise another;and he thought, 'It must not be known that this woman came to the threshing-floor.'	14 So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
15 He then said, 'Let me have the cloak you are wearing, hold it out!' She held it out while he put sixmeasures of barley into it and then loaded it on to her; and off she went to the town.	15 And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,
16 When Ruth got home, her mother-in-law asked her, 'How did things go with you, daughter?' She thentold her everything that the man had done for her.	16 And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 'He gave me these six measures of barley and said, "You must not go home empty-handed to yourmother-in-law." '	17 And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law.
18 Naomi said, 'Do nothing, daughter, until you see how things have gone; I am sure he will not rest untilhe has settled the matter this very day.'	18 And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.