Ruth 3

1And Naomi her mother-in-law saith to her, `My daughter, do not I seek for thee rest, that it may be well with thee?

1After 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.

2and now, is not Boaz of our acquaintance, with whose young women thou hast been? lo, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of barley to-night,

2This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.

3and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink;

3Wash 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.

4and it cometh to pass when he lieth down, that thou hast known the place where he lieth down, and hast gone in, and uncovered his feet, and lain down, --and he doth declare to thee that which thou dost do.'

4And 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.

5And she saith unto her, `All that thou sayest--I do.'

5She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.

6And she goeth down <FI>to<Fi> the threshing-floor, and doth according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her

6And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.

7And Boaz eateth and drinketh, and his heart is glad; and he goeth in to lie down at the end of the heap; and she cometh in gently, and uncovereth his feet, and lieth down.

7And 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.

8And it cometh to pass, at the middle of the night, that the man trembleth, and turneth himself, and lo, a woman is lying at his feet.

8And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,

9And he saith, `Who <FI>art<Fi> thou?' and she saith, `I <FI>am<Fi> Ruth thy handmaid, and thou hast spread thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou <FI>art<Fi> a redeemer.'

9And 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.

10And he saith, `Blessed <FI>art<Fi> thou of Jehovah, my daughter; thou hast dealt more kindly at the latter end than at the beginning--not to go after the young men, either poor or rich.

10And 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.

11And now, my daughter, fear not, all that thou sayest I do to thee, for all the gate of my people doth know that thou <FI>art<Fi> a virtuous woman.

11Fear 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.

12And now, surely, true, that I <FI>am<Fi> a redeemer, but also there is a redeemer nearer than I.

12Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.

13Lodge to night, and it hath been in the morning, if he doth redeem thee, well: he redeemeth; and if he delight not to redeem thee, then I have redeemed thee--I; Jehovah liveth! lie down till the morning.'

13Rest 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, so the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.

14And she lieth down at his feet till the morning, and riseth before one doth discern another; and he saith, `Let it not be known that the woman hath come into the floor.'

14So 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.

15And he saith, `Give the covering which <FI>is<Fi> on thee, and keep hold on it;' and she keepeth hold on it, and he measureth six <FI>measures<Fi> of barley, and layeth <FI>it<Fi> on her; and he goeth into the city.

15And 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,

16And she cometh in unto her mother-in-law, and she saith, `Who <FI>art<Fi> thou, my daughter?' and she declareth to her all that the man hath done to her.

16And 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.

17And she saith, `These six <FI>measures<Fi> of barley he hath given to me, for he said, Thou dost not go in empty unto thy mother-in-law.'

17And 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.

18And she saith, `Sit still, my daughter, till thou dost know how the matter falleth, for the man doth not rest except he hath completed the matter to-day.'

18And 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.