Boaz Redeems Ruth 1 UDB Meanwhile, Boaz went up to the meeting place at the gate leading into the town and sat down there. Before long, the close relative that Boaz had mentioned came along. Boaz said to him, "My cousin, come over here and sit down." So the man went and sat down. BSB BSB: 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.
2 UDB Boaz then gathered ten of the elders of the town and asked them to join them. So they sat down. BSB BSB: Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
3 UDB Then Boaz said to his relative, "As you know, Naomi has returned from Moab. Now she wants to sell her right to the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. BSB BSB: And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 UDB I thought that I should tell you about that and suggest that you buy it, while these elders who are sitting here are listening. If you are willing to buy the property, do that. But if you do not want to buy it, tell me, so that I will know. I am suggesting this to you because you are the one who has the first right to buy it, and if you do not buy it, I am next in line." The man replied, "I will buy it!" BSB BSB: 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.
5 UDB Then Boaz told him, "When you buy the land from Naomi, you will also need to marry Ruth, our relative's widow from Moab, so that she may have a son to inherit the property and carry on the name of her dead husband." BSB BSB: 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.”
6 UDB Then the nearer relative said, "If that is so, I do not want to buy the property, because then my own children would not inherit the property. I give you the right to buy the property instead of me!" BSB BSB: 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.”
7 UDB At that time, it was the custom in Israel that when two people agreed to redeem or exchange anything between them, one man would take off one of his sandals and give it to the other man. That was the way they finalized transactions in Israel. BSB BSB: 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.
8 UDB So the relative said to Boaz, "You buy the field yourself!" And he took off one of his sandals and gave it to Boaz. BSB BSB: So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
9 UDB Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the other people who were there, "Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to Elimelek, Mahlon, and Kilion. BSB BSB: 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.
10 UDB I am also taking Ruth, the woman from Moab, Mahlon's widow, to be my wife. This is in order that she may give birth to a son who will inherit the property. In this way he will carry on the family name among his relatives and here in his hometown. Today you all are witnesses of what I have done." BSB BSB: 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.”
11 UDB All the elders and the others who were sitting at the town gate agreed and said, "Yes, we are witnesses." One of them added, "May Yahweh allow this woman, who will be coming into your home, to be like Rachel and Leah, the two who bore our ancestors and started our people Israel. We hope that you will become rich in the clan of Ephrathah and become famous here in Bethlehem. BSB BSB: “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.
12 UDB May your family be like the family of your ancestor Perez son of Judah, and Tamar, because of the many descendants that Yahweh will give to you and this young woman." BSB BSB: 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.”
Boaz Marries Ruth 14 UDB The women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, "Praise Yahweh! Now he has given you a grandson who will be the one who will have the responsibility to take care of you. May he become famous throughout Israel. BSB BSB: 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.
15 UDB He will make you feel young again, and he will take care of you when you become old because your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given birth to him. She has been better to you than if you had seven sons." BSB BSB: 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.”
16 UDB Then Naomi took the baby and put him on her lap and became a second mother for him. BSB BSB: And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
17 UDB The women who were living nearby said, "It is as though Naomi now has a son!" And they named him Obed. Later, Obed became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David. BSB BSB: 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.
The Line of David (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38)
18 UDB Here is a list of the descendants of Perez: Perez's son was Hezron. Hezron's son was Ram. Ram's son was Amminadab. Amminadab's son was Nahshon. Nahshon's son was Salmon. Salmon's son was Boaz. Boaz's son was Obed. Obed's son was Jesse. Jesse's son was David. BSB BSB: Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.