| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Boaz went to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz called him by name and said, "Come over here and sit down." So he went over and sat down. | 1Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said, "Come here and sit down, 'John Doe'!" So he came and sat down. |
| 2Then Boaz took 10 men of the town's elders and said, "Sit here." And they sat down. | 2Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. |
| 3He said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling a piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. | 3Then Boaz said to the guardian, "Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. |
| 4I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn't anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you."" I want to redeem it," he answered. | 4So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you." He replied, "I will redeem it." |
| 5Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man's name on his property." | 5Then Boaz said, "When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property." |
| 6The redeemer replied, "I can't redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can't redeem it." | 6The guardian said, "Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it." |
| 7At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel. | 7(Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) |
| 8So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, "Buy back the property yourself." | 8So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal. |
| 9Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. | 9Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. |
| 10I will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man's name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today." | 10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today." |
| 11The elders and all the people who were at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. | 11All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. |
| 12May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman." | 12May your family become like the family of Perez--whom Tamar bore to Judah--through the descendants the LORD gives you by this young woman." |
| 13Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. | 13So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. |
| 14Then the women said to Naomi, "Praise the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. | 14The village women said to Naomi, "May the LORD be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel! |
| 15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." | 15He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!" |
| 16Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and took care of him. | 16Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. |
| 17The neighbor women said, "A son has been born to Naomi," and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. | 17The neighbor women named him, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse--David's father! |
| 18Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron. | 18These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, |
| 19Hezron fathered Ram, who fathered Amminadab. | 19Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, |
| 20Amminadab fathered Nahshon, who fathered Salmon. | 20Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, |
| 21Salmon fathered Boaz, who fathered Obed. | 21Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, |
| 22And Obed fathered Jesse, who fathered David. | 22Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. |
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