1 Ruth Becomes Boaz’ Wife Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, thekinsmanredeemer of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, 4:1Lit a certain one my fellow, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.
2 Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3 Then he said to thekinsmanredeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the fields of Moab, has to sell the portion of the field which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 So I thought to uncoverthis matterin your hearing, saying, ‘Acquireitbefore those who are sittinghereand before the elders of my people. If you will redeemit, redeemit; but if no one redeemsit, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeemit, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeemit.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also 4:5 Or acquire it from Ruth acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the one who had died, in order to raise up the name of the one who had died, on behalf of his inheritance.”
6 So thekinsmanredeemer said, “I cannot redeemitfor myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeemit.”
7 Now this wasthe customin former times in Israel concerning the right of redemption and the exchangeof landto establish any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was themanner ofattestation in Israel.
8 So thekinsmanredeemer said to Boaz, “Acquirethisfor yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon from the hand of Naomi.
10 And also, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the one who had died, on behalf of his inheritance, so that the name of the one who had died will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of hisbirthplace; you are witnesses today.”
11 And all the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We arewitnesses. May Yahweh grant the woman who is coming into your hometo belike Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel, and so you shall 4:11Lit do achieve 4:11Or wealth, valor excellence in Ephrathah and shall 4:11Or have your name called out proclaimyourname in Bethlehem.
12 Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the seed which Yahweh will grant you by this young woman.”
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And Yahweh granted her conception, and she gave birth to a son.
14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is Yahweh who has not left you without a 4:14Or closest relative kinsmanredeemer today, and may his name 4:14Lit be called in be proclaimed in Israel.
15 May he also be to you a restorer ofyoursoul and a sustainer of your 4:15 Or gray hair old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you 4:15 Lit who and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”The Generations of David
16 Then Naomi took the child 4:16As her own and put him on her bosom and became his nurse.
17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez:Perez became the father of Hezron,
19 and Hezron became the father of Ram,and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
20 and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,and Nahshon became the father of 4:20 A variant spelling of Salmon, cf.4:21 Salmah,
21 and Salmon became the father of Boaz,and Boaz became the father of Obed,
22 and Obed became the father of Jesse,and Jesse became the father of David.