Study Desk

Turn back, my daughters, go--for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,

would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!"

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; [fn] call me Mara, [fn] for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."

Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, [fn] for you are a close relative."

Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you--good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning."

When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "Is that you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her.

And she said, "These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, "Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law."'

Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."

And I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you [fn] will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.' " And he said, "I will redeem it."

And the close relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he took off his sandal.

And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."