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The Marriage of Ruth

¹ Then Boaz went up to the city gate where business and legal matters were settled and sat down, and then ^(C1)the close relative (redeemer) of whom Boaz had spoken came by. He said to him, "Come over here, ^(F1)friend, and sit down." So he came and sat down.² Then Boaz took ten men from the ^(C1)elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." And they sat down.³ He said to the closest relative (redeemer), "Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, must sell the plot of land ^(C1)which belonged to our brother Elimelech.⁴ "So I thought to let you hear of it, saying, '^(C1)Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, then tell me, so that I may know; for ^(C2)there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am next of kin after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."⁵ Then Boaz said, "The day that you buy the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, ^(C1)to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance."^6 (C1)The closest relative (redeemer) said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because by marrying a Moabitess I would ^(F1)jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption (purchase) yourself, because I cannot redeem it." ^(VR1)

⁷ Now formerly in Israel this was ^(C1)the custom concerning redeeming and exchanging property. To confirm a transaction, a man pulled off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the way of confirming and attesting in Israel.⁸ So, when the closest relative (redeemer) said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," he pulled off his sandal and gave it to Boaz to confirm the agreement.⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought everything that was Elimelech's and everything that was Chilion's and Mahlon's from the hand of Naomi.¹⁰ "I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance, so ^(C1)that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his birthplace. You are witnesses today."¹¹ All the people at the gate and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house ^(C1)like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the household of Israel. May you achieve wealth and power in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.¹² "Further, may your house be like the house of ^(C1)Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and ^(C1)the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.¹⁴ Then the ^(C1)women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer (grandson, as heir) today, and may his name become famous in Israel.¹⁵ "May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and ^(C1)is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

The Line of David Began Here

¹⁸ Now these are the descendants of Perez: ^(C1)Perez was the father of Hezron,¹⁹ Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab,²⁰ Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,²¹ Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,²² Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king of Israel and the ancestor of Jesus Christ.