Dual PanelThe Threshing Floor
1Then Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, maybe I should find a husband and a good home for you. That would be good for you.
2Boaz is our close relative. You worked with his women servants. Tonight he will be working at the threshing floor.
3Go wash yourself and get dressed. Put on a nice dress, and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating his dinner.
4After he eats, he will lie down to rest. Watch him so that you will know where he lies down. Go there and lift the cover off his feet. Then lie down there with Boaz. He will tell you what to do next.”
5Then Ruth answered, “I will do what you say.”
6So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did everything that her mother-in-law told her to do.
7After eating and drinking, Boaz was very satisfied. He went to lie down near the pile of grain. Then Ruth went to him very quietly and lifted the cover from his feet and lay down by his feet.
8About midnight, Boaz rolled over in his sleep and woke up. He was very surprised to see a woman lying near his feet.
9Boaz said, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. You are our family’s protector. So spread your cover over me.”
10Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, young woman. You have been very kind to me. Your kindness to me is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning. You could have looked for a young man to marry, rich or poor. But you did not.
11Now, young woman, don’t be afraid. I will do what you ask. All the people in our town know that you are a very good woman.
12And it is true that I am a close relative. But there is a man who is a closer relative to you than I am.
13Stay here tonight. In the morning we will see if he will help you. If he decides to help you, that is fine. If he refuses to help, I promise, as surely as the LORD lives, I will marry you and buy back Elimelech’s land for you. So lie here until morning.”
14So Ruth lay near Boaz’s feet until morning. She got up while it was still dark, before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. Boaz said to her, “We will keep it a secret that you came here to me last night.”
15Then he said, “Bring that cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So Ruth held it out, and Boaz poured six measures of barley into it. He lifted it up for her to carry. Then he returned to the city.
16When Ruth came back to her mother-in-law’s house, Naomi asked her what happened. Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her.
17She said, “Boaz gave me this barley and said, ‘You must not go home without taking this as a gift for your mother-in-law.’”
18Naomi said, “My daughter, be patient until we see what happens next. Boaz will not rest until he has done all that he should do. We will know something before the end of the day.”