CHAPTER 4
Meanwhile Boaz
went
to the gate
and sat down
there.
Soon
the kinsman-redeemer
of whom he
had spoken
came along,
and Boaz said,
“Come over
here,
my friend,
and sit down.”
So he went over
and sat down.
And he said
to the kinsman-redeemer,
“Naomi,
who has returned
from the land
of Moab,
is selling
a piece
of land
that
belonged to our brother
Elimelech.
I
thought
I should inform
you
that you may 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
will not
redeem it,
tell
me
so I may know,
because
there is no one
but you
to redeem it,
and I am
next after you."
"I
will redeem it,"
he replied.
Then Boaz
said,
“On the day
you buy
the land
from
Naomi
and also from
Ruth
the Moabitess,
you must also acquire
the widow
of the deceased
in order to raise
up the name
of the deceased
on
his inheritance.”
The kinsman-redeemer
replied,
“I cannot
redeem it myself,
or
I would jeopardize
my own inheritance.
Take my right of redemption,
because
I cannot
redeem it.”
(Now
in former times
in Israel,
concerning
the redemption
or exchange of property,
to make any
matter
legally binding
a man
would remove
his sandal
and give it
to the other party,
and this was
a confirmation
in Israel.)
At this, Boaz
said
to the elders
and all
the people,
“You
are witnesses
today
that
I am buying
from
Naomi
all
that
belonged to Elimelech,
Chilion,
and Mahlon.
Moreover,
I have acquired
Ruth
the Moabitess,
Mahlon’s
widow,
as my wife,
to raise up
the name
of the deceased
through
his inheritance,
so that his
name
will not
disappear
from among
his brothers
or from the gate
of his home.
You
are witnesses today."
“We are witnesses,”
said
the elders
and all
the people
at the gate.
“May the LORD
make
the woman
entering
your home
like Rachel
and Leah,
who
together built up
the house
of Israel.
May you be
prosperous
in Ephrathah
and famous
in
Bethlehem.
And may your house
become
like the house
of Perez,
whom
Tamar
bore
to Judah,
because of
the offspring
the LORD
will give
you
by
this
young woman.”
So Boaz
took
Ruth
and she became
his wife.
And he had relations with
her,
the LORD
enabled
her
to conceive,
and she gave birth to
a son.
Then the women
said
to
Naomi,
“Blessed be
the LORD,
who
has not
left
you
this day
without a kinsman-redeemer.
May his name
become famous
in Israel.
He will renew
your life
and sustain you
in your old age.
For
your daughter-in-law,
who
loves
you and is better
to you than
seven
sons,
has given him birth.”
The neighbor
women said,
“A son
has been born
to Naomi,”
and they named
him
Obed.
He became
the father
of Jesse,
the father
of David.