| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 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. | 1Meanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, "Come over and sit down here, my friend!" So the man came over and sat down. |
| 2Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. | 2Boaz selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, "Sit down here." So they sat down |
| 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. | 3and Boaz addressed the related redeemer directly: "A portion of a field belonging to our relative Elimelech is up for sale by Naomi, who recently returned from the country of Moab. |
| 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." | 4So I thought to myself I ought to tell you that you must make a public purchase of this before the town residents and the elders of my people. So if you intend to act as the related redeemer, then do so. But if not, let me know, because except for you—and I after you—there is no one to fulfill the duties of a related redeemer." The man responded, "I will act as related redeemer." |
| 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." | 5Boaz continued, "On the very day you buy the field from Naomi, you're also "buying" Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of her dead husband, so the family name may be continued as an inheritance." |
| 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." | 6At this, the nearer related redeemer replied, "Then I am unable to act as related redeemer, because that would complicate my own inheritance. You act instead as the related redeemer, because I cannot do so." |
| 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.) | 7During Israel's earlier history, all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party, thereby creating a public record in Israel. |
| 8So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal. | 8So when the nearer related redeemer told Boaz, "Make the purchase yourself," he then took off his sandal. |
| 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. | 9At this, Boaz addressed the elders and all of the people: "You all are witnesses today that I hereby redeem everything from Naomi that belonged to Elimelech, including what belonged to Chilion and Mahlon, |
| 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." | 10along with Mahlon's wife Ruth the Moabite woman. I will marry her to continue the family name as an inheritance, so that the name of the deceased does not disappear from among his relatives, nor from the public record. You are all witnesses today!" |
| 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. | 11Then all of the assembled people, including the elders who were there, said, "We are witnesses! May the LORD make this woman who enters your house like Rachel and Leah, who together established the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah, and may you excel in Bethlehem! |
| 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." | 12Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore for Judah, from the offspring that the LORD gives you from this young woman." |
| 13So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. | 13So Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, and when he had marital relations with her, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son. |
| 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! | 14Then the women of Bethlehem told Naomi, "May the LORD be blessed, who has not left you today without a related redeemer. May his name become famous throughout Israel! |
| 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!" | 15And he will restore your life for you and will support you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who has borne him, is better for you than seven sons!" |
| 16Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. | 16Naomi took care of the child, taking him to her breast and becoming his nurse. |
| 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! | 17So her women neighbors gave the child a nickname, which is "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. |
| 18These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, | 18This is the genealogy of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, |
| 19Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, | 19Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab. |
| 20Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, | 20Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. |
| 21Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, | 21Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed. |
| 22Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. | 22Then Obed fathered Jesse, who fathered David. |
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