Ruth 3

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Her mother-in-law Naomi then said, 'Daughter, is it not my duty to see you happily settled?	1 But afterwards, when she returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi said to her: “My daughter, I will seek rest for you, and I will provide so that it may be well with you.
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 Boaz, whose young women you joined in the field, is our near relative, and this night he will winnow the threshing floor of barley.
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 Therefore, wash and anoint yourself, and put on your decorative garments, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man see you, while he finishes 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 But when he goes sleep, observe the place where he sleeps. And you will approach and lift up the covering, the part which covers near his feet, and lay yourself down, and sleep there; but he will tell you what you are obliged to do.”
5 Ruth said, 'I shal do everything you tel me.'	5 She answered, “I will do everything as you have instructed.”
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 threshing floor, and she did everything that her mother-in-law had commanded 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 Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and he was merry, and he had gone to sleep by the pile of sheaves, she approached secretly, and, lifting the covering near his feet, she 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 the middle of the night, the man became frightened and confused, and he saw a woman lying near 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 are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your handmaid. Spread your covering over your servant, for you are a near relative.”
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, “You are blessed by the Lord, daughter, and you have excelled beyond your earlier benevolence, because you have not followed young men, whether 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 Therefore, do not be afraid, but whatever you decide about me, I will accomplish for you. For all the people, who dwell within the gates of my city, know that you are 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 a near relative, 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 Be at peace for this night. And when morning arrives, if he is willing to uphold the law of kinship for you, things will turn out well; but if he is not willing, then, I will take you, without any doubt, as the Lord lives. Sleep until 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 And so she slept by his feet until the night was ending. And she arose before men could inquire of one another. And Boaz said, “Be careful, lest someone know that you came here.”
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 your mantle that covers you, and hold it with both hands.” As she extended it and held it, he measured six measures of barley and placed it upon her. Carrying it, she 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 she came to her mother-in-law, who said to her: “What have you been doing, daughter?” And she explained to her all that the man had accomplished for 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 gave me six measures of barley, for he said, ‘I am not willing to have you return empty to your 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 Naomi said, “Wait, daughter, until we see how things will turn out. For the man will not rest until he has accomplished what he said.”