Ruth 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Boaz, meanwhile, had gone up to the gate and sat down, and the relative of whom he had spoken thencame by. Boaz said to him, 'Here, my friend, come and sit down'; the man came and sat down.	1 Boaz went and took a seat at the gate; and when he saw the closer relative of whom he had spoken come along, he called to him by name, "Come and sit beside me!" And he did so.
2 Boaz then picked out ten of the town's elders and said, 'Sit down here'; they sat down.	2 Then Boaz picked out ten of the elders of the city and asked them to sit nearby. When they had done this,
3 Boaz then said to the man who had the right of redemption, 'Naomi, who has come back from the Plainsof Moab, is sel ing the piece of land that belonged to our brother, Elimelech.	3 he said to the near relative: "Naomi, who has come back from the Moabite plateau, is putting up for sale the piece of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech.
4 I thought I should tel you about this and say, "Acquire it in the presence of the men who are sitting hereand in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to use your right of redemption, redeem it; if you donot, tel me so that I know, for I am the only person to redeem it besides yourself, and I myself come after you." 'The man said, 'I am wil ing to redeem it.'	4 So I thought I would inform you, bidding you before those here present, including the elders of my people, to put in your claim for it if you wish to acquire it as next of kin. But if you do not wish to claim it, tell me so, that I may be guided accordingly, for no one has a prior claim to yours, and mine is next." He answered, "I will put in my claim."
5 Boaz then said, 'The day you acquire the field from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, thewife of the man who has died, to perpetuate the dead man's name in his inheritance.'	5 Boaz continued, "Once you acquire the field from Naomi, you must take also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the late heir, and raise up a family for the departed on his estate."
6 The man with the right of redemption then said, 'I cannot use my right of redemption withoutjeopardising my own inheritance. Since I cannot use my right of redemption, exercise the right yourself.'	6 The near relative replied, "I cannot exercise my claim lest I depreciate my own estate. Put in a claim yourself in my stead, for I cannot exercise my claim."
7 Now, in former times, it was the custom in Israel to confirm a transaction in matters of redemption orinheritance by one of the parties taking off his sandal and giving it to the other. This was how agreements wereratified in Israel.	7 Now it used to be the custom in Israel that, to make binding a contract of redemption or exchange, one party would take off his sandal and give it to the other. This was the form of attestation in Israel.
8 So, when the man with the right of redemption said to Boaz, 'Acquire it for yourself,' he took off hissandal.	8 So the near relative, in saying to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," drew off his sandal.
9 Boaz then said to the elders and al the people there, 'Today you are witnesses that from Naomi Iacquire everything that used to belong to Elimelech, and everything that used to belong to Mahlon and Chilion	9 Boaz then said to the elders and to all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all the holdings of Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon.
10 and that I am also acquiring Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, to be my wife, to perpetuate thedead man's name in his inheritance, so that the dead man's name will not be lost among his brothers and at thegate of his town. Today you are witnesses to this.'	10 I also take Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, as my wife, in order to raise up a family for her late husband on his estate, so that the name of the departed may not perish among his kinsmen and fellow citizens. Do you witness this today?"
11 All the people at the gate said, 'We are witnesses'; and the elders said, 'May Yahweh make the womanabout to enter your family like Rachel and Leah who together built up the House of Israel. Grow mighty inEphrathah, be renowned in Bethlehem!	11 All those at the gate, including the elders, said, "We do so. May the LORD make this wife come into your house like Rachel and Leah, who between them built up the house of Israel. May you do well in Ephrathah and win fame in Bethlehem.
12 And through the children Yahweh wil give you by this young woman, may your family be like the familyof Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.'	12 With the offspring the LORD will give you from this girl, may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And when they came together, Yahweh made herconceive and she bore a son.	13 Boaz took Ruth. When they came together as man and wife, the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.
14 And the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be Yahweh who has not left you today without anyone toredeem you. May his name be praised in Israel!	14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not failed to provide you today with an heir! May he become famous in Israel!
15 The child wil be a comfort to you and the prop of your old age, for he has been born to the daughter-in-law who loves you and is more to you than seven sons.'	15 He will be your comfort and the support of your old age, for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you. She is worth more to you than seven sons!"
16 And Naomi, taking the child, held him to her breast; and she it was who looked after him.	16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.
17 And the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name. 'A son', they said, 'has been born to Naomi,'and they cal ed him Obed. This was the father of Jesse, the father of David.	17 And the neighbor women gave him his name, at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi. They called him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 These are the descendants of Perez. Perez fathered Hezron,	18 These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab,	19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,
20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,	20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,	21 Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.'	22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.