1 Tad Naomija, viņas vīra māte, viņai sacīja: „Maņa meita, vai lai es nemeklēju tev vietu, kur tev labi klāsies?
2 Un vai Boāss, pie kura kalpiem tu esi bijusi, nav mūsu radinieks? Lūk, šonakt viņš vētīs miežus piedarbā.
3 Tādēļ mazgājies un svaidies, uzvelc savas jaunās drēbes un noej uz piedarbu, bet nerādies tam vīram, pirms viņš nav pabeidzis ēst un dzert.
4 Bet kad viņš apgulsies, ievēro to vietu, kur viņš guļ, tad ej, pacel segu no viņa kāju galiem, noklāj to tiem līdzās un apgulsties uz tās; tad viņš tev teiks, kas tev jādara.“
5 Un viņa tai atbildēja: „Visu, ko tu saki, es darīšu.“
6 Tā viņa nogāja uz piedarbu un darīja visu taisni tā, kā viņas vīra māte bija likusi.
7 Un kad Boāss bija paēdis un padzēris un viņa sirds bija jautra, viņš gāja gulēt labības kaudzes galā. Tad viņa klusi nāca un atsedza viņa kājas un apgulās.
8 Ap pusnakti tas vīrs uztrūkās un palocījies ieraudzīji, ka kāda sieviete gulēja pie viņa kājām.
9 Viņš jautāja: „Kas tu esi?“ Un viņa atbildēja: „Esmu Rute, tava kalpone; izplet savus spārnus pāri savai kalponei, jo tu esi mans tuvākais radinieks.“
10 Un viņš sacīja: „Esi tā Kunga svētīta, mana meita: tu esi izdarījusi šo pēdējo mīlestības darbu labāk kā pirmo, neskriedama pakaļ jauniem puišiem, vai tie būtu nabagi, vai bagāti.
11 Un tagad, mana meita, nebīsties: es darīšu tavā labā visu, ko vien tu prasīsi, jo visos vārtos mani ļaudis zina, ka tu esi godīga sieviete.
12 Ir taisnība, ka es esmu tavs radinieks; tomēr vēl ir kāds tuvāks radinieks par mani.
13 Paliec šonakt še, un ja rītā viņš gribēs tevi ņemt, labi, lai viņš tevi ņem, bet ja viņš negribēs tevi ņemt, tad es tevi ņemšu, tik tiešām, ka tas Kungs ir dzīvs! Guli līdz rītam.“
14 Tā viņa gulēja pie viņa kājām līdz rītam. Bet viņa piecēlās, pirms viens otru varēja pazīt, jo viņa sprieda: „Lai tas nekļūst zināms, ka sieviete ir nākusi uz piedarbu.“
15 Un viņš sacīja: „Dod šurpu lakatu, kas tev ir, un paturi to!“ Tā viņa turēja to, un viņš iemērīja sešus mērus miežu un uzlika viņai tos mugurā, un viņa gāja uz pilsētu.
16 Un kad viņa atnāca pie savas vīta mātes, tā jautāja: „Kā tev ir klājies, mana meita?“ Tad viņa stāstīja tai visu, ko tas vīrs bija darījis viņas labā:
17 „Šos sešus mērus miežu viņš man deva, jo viņš sacīja: Tev nebūs tukšā iet pie savas vīra mātes.“
18 Viņa sacīja: „Pagaidi, mana meita, līdz kamēr tu dabūsi zināt, kāds būs iznākums, jo tas vīrs nepaliks mierā, bet nokārtos šo lietu drīz.“
Naomi Makes Plans for Ruth
1 One day, Naomi said to Ruth:
It's time I found you a husband, who will give you a home and take care of you.
2 You have been picking up grain alongside the women who work for Boaz, and you know he is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be threshing the grain. 3 Now take a bath and put on some perfume, then dress in your best clothes. Go where he is working, but don't let him see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Watch where he goes to spend the night, then when he is asleep, lift the cover and lie down at his feet. He will tell you what to do.
5 Ruth answered, “I'll do whatever you say.” 6 She went out to the place where Boaz was working and did what Naomi had told her.
7 After Boaz finished eating and drinking and was feeling happy, he went over and fell asleep near the pile of grain. Ruth slipped over quietly. She lifted the cover and lay down near his feet.
8 In the middle of the night, Boaz suddenly woke up and was shocked to see a woman lying at his feet. 9 “Who are you?” he asked.
“Sir, I am Ruth,” she answered, “and you are the relative who is supposed to take care of me. So spread the edge of your cover over me.”
10 Boaz replied:
The Lord bless you! This shows how truly loyal you are to your family. You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn't. 11 Don't worry, I'll do what you have asked. You are respected by everyone in town.
12 It's true that I am one of the relatives who is supposed to take care of you, but there is someone who is an even closer relative. 13 Stay here until morning, then I will find out if he is willing to look after you. If he isn't, I promise by the living God to do it myself. Now go back to sleep until morning.
14 Ruth lay down again, but she got up before daylight, because Boaz did not want anyone to know she had been there. 15 Then he told her to spread out her cape. And he filled it with grain and placed it on her shoulder.
When Ruth got back to town, 16 Naomi asked her what had happened, and Ruth told her everything. 17 She also said, “Boaz gave me this grain, because he didn't want me to come back without something for you.”
18 Naomi replied, “Just be patient and don't worry about what will happen. He won't rest until everything is settled today!”
