Ruth 4

Boaz and the Other Relative

4 <1> Boaz went to the place where people gather near the city gates. He sat there until the close relative Boaz had mentioned passed by. Boaz called to him, "Come here, friend. Sit here."

<2> Boaz gathered ten of the elders[22] of the city. He told them, "Sit here!" So they sat down.

<3> Then Boaz spoke to the close relative. He said, "Naomi came back from the hill country of Moab. She is selling the land[23] that belonged to our relative Elimelech. <4> I decided to tell you about this in front of the people living here and in front of the elders of my people. If you want to buy back the land, buy it. If you don't want to redeem the land, tell me. I know that I am the next one after you who can redeem the land. If you don't buy the land back, I will."

<5> Then Boaz said, "If you buy the land from Naomi, you also get the dead man's wife, Ruth, the Moabite woman, and the first child will get the land. That way, the land will stay in the dead man's family."

<6> The close relative answered, "I cannot buy back the land. That land should belong to me, but I cannot buy it. If I do, I might lose my own land. So you can buy the land." <7> (Long ago in Israel, when people bought or redeemed property, one person took off a shoe and gave it to the other person. This was their proof of purchase.) <8> So the close relative said to Boaz, "Buy the land." And then the close relative took off his sandal [and gave it to Boaz].

<9> Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. <10> I am also taking Ruth to be my wife. I am doing this so that the dead man's property will stay with his family. This way, the dead man's name will not be separated from his family and his land. You are witnesses this day."

<11> So all the people and elders that were near the city gates were witnesses. They said,

"May the Lord make this woman

who is coming into your home

like Rachel and Leah

who built the house of Israel.[24]

Become powerful in Ephrathah[25]!

Be famous in Bethlehem!

<12> Tamar gave birth to Judah's son Perez.[26]

And his family became great.

In the same way may the Lord give you many children through Ruth,

and may your family be great like his."

<13> So Boaz married Ruth. The Lord allowed Ruth to become pregnant, and she had a son. <14> The women told Naomi,

"Praise the Lord who gave you this child.[27]

He will become famous in Israel.

<15> He will make you alive again,

and care for you in your old age.

Your daughter-in-law made it happen.

She bore this child for you.

She loves you,

and she is better for you than seven sons."

<16> Naomi took the boy, held him in her arms, and cared for him. <17> The neighbors gave the boy his name. These women said, "Naomi has a son now!"[28] They named him Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of [King] David.

Ruth and Boaz's Family

<18> This is the family history of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron.

<19> Hezron was the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab.

<20> Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.

Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

<21> Salmon was the father of Boaz.

Boaz was the father of Obed.

<22> Obed was the father of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David.