Chapter 4

Then went Boaz up¹ to the gate, and sat him down⁴ there: and, behold, the kinsman⁶ of whom Boaz spake¹⁴ came by;⁶ unto whom he said,⁴ Ho, such a one! turn aside,³ sit down³ here. And he turned aside,⁴ and sat down.⁴

And he took⁴ ten men of the elders of the city, and said,⁴ Sit ye down³ here. And they sat down.⁴

And he said⁴ unto the kinsman,⁶ Naomi, that is come again¹ out of the country of Moab, selleth¹ a parcel of land, which [was] our brother Elimelech's:

And I thought¹ to advertise^{4 241} thee, saying,² Buy³ [it] before the inhabitants,⁶ and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem⁴ [it], redeem³ [it]: but if thou wilt not redeem⁴ [it, then] tell⁵⁴ me, that I may know:⁴ for [there is] none to redeem² [it] beside thee; and I [am] after thee. And he said,⁴ I will redeem⁴ [it].

Then said⁴ Boaz, What day thou buyest² the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy¹ [it] also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead,⁵ to raise up⁵³ the name of the dead⁵ upon his inheritance.

And the kinsman⁶ said,⁴ I cannot ^{3201 4} redeem² [it] for myself, lest I mar⁵⁵ mine own inheritance: redeem³ thou my right to thyself; for I cannot ^{3201 4} redeem² [it].

Now this [was the manner] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm¹⁵ all things; a man plucked off¹ his shoe, and gave¹ [it] to his neighbour: and this [was] a testimony in Israel.

Therefore the kinsman⁶ said⁴ unto Boaz, Buy³ [it] for thee. So he drew off⁴ his shoe.

And Boaz said⁴ unto the elders, and [unto] all the people, Ye [are] witnesses this day, that I have bought¹ all that [was] Elimelech's, and all that [was] Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased¹ to be my wife, to raise up⁵³ the name of the dead⁵ upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead⁵ be not cut off¹¹ from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day.

And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said,⁴ [We are] witnesses. The LORD make⁴ the woman that is come⁶ into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build¹ the house of Israel: and do³ thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous^{3 8034} in Bethlehem:

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare¹ unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give⁴ thee of this young woman.

So Boaz took⁴ Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in⁴ unto her, the LORD gave⁴ her conception, and she bare⁴ a son.

And the women said⁴ unto Naomi, Blessed⁷ [be] the LORD, which hath not left⁵² thee this day without a kinsman,⁶ that his name may be famous¹¹ in Israel.

And he shall be unto thee a restorer⁵⁶ of [thy] life, and a nourisher⁴⁴ of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth¹ thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born¹ him.

And Naomi took⁴ the child, and laid⁴ it in her bosom, and became nurse⁶ unto it.

And the women her neighbours gave⁴ it a name, saying,² There is a son born²⁷ to Naomi; and they called⁴ his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat⁵² Hezron,

And Hezron begat⁵² Ram, and Ram begat⁵² Amminadab,

And Amminadab begat⁵² Nahshon, and Nahshon begat⁵² Salmon,

And Salmon begat⁵² Boaz, and Boaz begat⁵² Obed,

And Obed begat⁵² Jesse, and Jesse begat⁵² David.