Translation of Ruth John Kloosterman August 9, 2007

Introduction The source text used was Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, fifth edition, published by Deutsche Bibelgesellscaft, often abbreviated as BHS. BHS is the standard critical Hebrew text used for translation and textual study, and is based on the oldest complete Masoretic manuscript. I have followed no variant readings pointed out in the BHS apparatus. For the translation, I used the BDB to discern the meaning of words, a website at http://morfix.co.il to parse some difficult forms, and the ESV[3] for the opinion of more educated minds on the correct readings of words and grammar. I have presented two translations here, the first being the very rough English that I wrote when actually translating the text. I have divided it by verse, starting a new line for each, to facilitate comparison. It contains notes about the Hebrew text itself. To the non-Hebraist, the most interesting notes would be about the gender and number of words, which often cannot be communicated in English. The second is considerably smoothed, and made into proper English. I have separated it into paragraphs, which though not all in the original text are quite self-evident. I have footnoted Hebrew words that have a meaning broader than a corresponding English word communicates: 1. The translations of the two names of Naomi in 1:19, which are essential for that verse, 2. The words h.e´sed and n´ephesh, which have no English analogue, 3. The word t¯oledot, for comparison with e.g. Ge. 5:1. ¯ ¯ This is a formally-equivalent translation of Ruth. The reader should note that as I am unqualified novice of the art of translating Biblical Hebrew, this should not be used as any kind of authoritative work.

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Rough Translation

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Chapter 1 1. In the days when the judges governed,1 there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem of Judah went down to dwell2 in the fields of Moab - he and his wife and his two sons. 2. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Machlon and Kilyon, Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went into the fields of Moab and remained there. 3. Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she and her two sons remained.3 4. They took for themselves Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the second Ruth. They lived there about ten years. 5. Both Machlon and Kilyon also died, and the woman remained from her two sons and her husband. 6. She and her daughters-in-law arose4 and returned from the fields of Moab, for she heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had attended to his people, giving them food. 7. She went out from the place that she had been, and her two daughters-in-law with her, and went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8. Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return, each of you to her mother’s house, and the LORD will do kindness, according to what you5 have done with the dead and with me. 9. The LORD will give and you shall find6 rest, each woman in the house of her husband.” She kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept. 10. They said to her, “With you we will return to your people.” 11. Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Again will there be sons in my womb, and be husbands for you?7 12. Return, my daughters, go, for I am too old to have a husband, if I said I have hope even that I would be tonight to a man, and also bear sons. 13. Would therefore8 you wait until those grew up? Would therefore you shut yourselves off, not being to a husband? No, my daughters, for it is very bitter for me (from) you9 for the hand of 1

Heb. same root as “judge” BDB: connotation as newcomer 3 Heb. sing. 4 Heb. sing. 5 Heb. masc. pl. 6 Heb. imperative 7 Heb. m.p. 8 Heb. l¯ah¯en for l¯ake¯ n? ¯ 9 Heb. m.p. 2

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the LORD has gone out in me.” 14. They lifted up their voice and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15. She said, “Here10 , your sister-in-law returned to her people and gods. Return after your sisterin-law.” 16. Ruth said, “You will not entreat me to forsake you, to return from after you, for to where you will go I will go, and in what you will lodge, I will lodge, your people is my people and your God11 is my God. 17. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. The LORD will do for me this and more if12 but death will separate between me and between you.” 18. And she saw that she was determined to go with her, and she ceased to speak to her. 19. The two of them13 went14 until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred15 on account of them. They16 said, “Is this Naomi?” 20. She said to them17 , “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for Shaddai has caused me much bitterness. 21. I went filled18 , but empty the LORD has caused me to return.19 Why are you calling me Naomi; the LORD has afflicted in me, Shaddai has dealt unkindly with me.” 22. Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the fields of Moab. And they20 came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest of barley.

Discussion The Hebrew text has a few oddities in it. In verses 9, 12, 20 the f.p. verbs are spelled defectively,21 without the usual h¯e at the end. When Naomi and the daughters-in-law weep, the singular word “voice” is used consistently (vs. 9, 14). The Hebrew masculine plural is used many times when the feminine plural would be expected (incidences footnoted).

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Heb. hinn¯eh Heb. plural; usually plural used for God, earlier definitely “gods” 12 Discussion of phrase under yod-samech-pe in BDB 13 Heb. m.p. 14 Heb. f.p. 15 BDB he-mem-he 4. 16 Heb. f.p.; therefore probably referring to the women of the city 17 Heb. f.p. 18 odd Heb. pro. adj. vb. word order 19 The causative is part of the verb. 20 Heb. m.p. 21 In Hebrew orthography, meaning one or more unpronounced consonants are not written. 11

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Chapter 2 1. Naomi had a relative to her husband, a man who was a warrior of an army, from the clan of Elimelech; his name was Boaz. 2. Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me go22 to the field, and let me glean the ears of grain after those I find favor in the eyes of.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3. She went and came and gleaned in the field after the harvesters, and her chances met the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. 4. And, behold23 Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!”, and they said to him: “May the LORD bless you!” 5. Boaz said to the young man who was appointed over the harvesters, “To whom does that young woman belong?” 6. The young man who was appointed over the harvesters replied and said, “The young woman is a Moabitess, who returned with Naomi from the the fields of Moab. 7. She said, “Let me glean24 and I will gather in the standings after the harvesters.” And she came and remained from there in the morning until now, this her sitting in the house a little.” 8. Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Have you not listened, my daughter? Do not go to glean in another field, also do not go out from this one; keep close with my young women. 9. Your eyes be on the field that they harvest, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you thirst25 go to the vessels and drink from that which the young men draw.” 10. She fell on her face and bowed down26 to the ground, and said to him, “Why did I find favor in your eyes, to regard me, and I am a foreigner27 ?” 11. Boaz answered and said to her, “Told, told to me is all that you have done with your mother-inlaw after the death of your husband, and you left your father and mother and the land that you were born in and went to a people that you did not know28 . 12. The LORD will compensate your action and give your full reward from with the LORD God of Israel, whom you came to seek refuge under his wings.” 22

with particle n¯a’ Heb. hinn¯eh 24 with paricle n¯a’ 25 aleph to he shift, odd conversive 26 A noteworthily odd verb 27 Heb. to regard and foreigner sound very alike 28 Lit. “yesterday and the third day”, c.f. BDB pg.1069-1070 23

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13. She said, “I am finding favour in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and for you have spoken on the heart of your maidservant, and my lord, I am not like one of your maidservants.” 14. And Boaz said to her, “At the time of the food, come hither, and eat from the bread and dip your piece in the vinegar.” She sat beside the harvesters and he held out29 to her roasted grain. And she ate and she rested, and she had more than enough30 . 15. And she arose to glean, and Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Also between the sheaves let her glean, and do not put her to shame. 16. Also, you shall indeed draw out for her from the bundles and leave (them) and she will glean (that), and do not rebuke her.” 17. She gleaned in the field until the evening, and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18. She lifted it up and she went in the city and her mother-in-law saw that which she had gleaned, and she brought out and gave to her that which was left over when she was satisfied. 19. Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today and where did you work? Let him who noticed you be blessed!” She told to her mother-in-law that which she did with him. She said the name of the man that she worked with that day was Boaz. 20. Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “He is blessed to the LORD whose kindness has not left the living and the dead.” Naomi said to her, “Close to us is the man; he is one of our redeemers.” 21.

31 Ruth

the Moabitess said, “Also that he spoke to me, “Cling to my young men, until they complete the whole harvest.””

22. Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good my daughter, that you go out with his young men, and they32 do not meet hostility with you in another field.” 23. She clung in the young women of Boaz to glean until the ends of the harvest of the barley and the harvest of the wheat, and she lived with her mother-in-law.

29

Heb. for held out sounds like the word for beside An aggravating defectively-spelled 1-yod verb! 31 The exact center of the book in Hebrew is here. 32 Heb. impersonal 30

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Chapter 3 1. And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, will I not seek you rest, that it will be well to you? 2. For now, is it not Boaz our relative with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of the barley tonight. 3. Wash yourself and anoint and put your garment on you and descend33 to the threashing-floor. Do not be known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking. 4. When he lies down, know the place that he lies, and come and uncover his feet and lie down34 , and he will tell you that which you will do.” 5. And she said to her, “All that you tell me35 I will do.” 6. She went down to the threshing-floor and did like all that her mother-in-law commanded. 7. Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was well, and he came to lie down at the edge of the heap, and she came in mystery36 and she uncovered his feet and lay down. 8. And in the middle of the night, the man was startled, and he turned himself, and behold, a woman was lying down at his feet. 9. He said, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread out your (wings/extremities of garment) on your maidservant, for you are a redeemer.” 10. He said, “Blessed you are to the LORD, my daughter; you have made this last of your kindness better than the first; not going after the youths, whether poor or rich. 11. Now, my daughter, do not be afraid: all that you say I will do for you, for the whole gate37 of my people knows that a woman of life you are. 12. But now they38 confirm that (unpointed)39 a redeemer I am, but also there is a redeemer closer than I. 13. Lodge this night, and it will be in the morning: if he redeems you, good, he redeems you, but if he does not desire to redeem you, I will redeem you, by the life of the LORD. Lie down until morning.” 33

with extra yod at end with extra yod at end 35 This word is not in the consonantal text, but the vowels are present. c.f. Discussion at end of chapter 36 i.e. undetectably 37 i.e. those who gather there 38 Heb. impersonal 39 Heb. aleph-mem 34

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14. She lay down at his feet until the morning, then arose before a man recognizes his friend. He said, “Do not make known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.” 15. He said, “Bring the cloak that is on you, and hold it out.” She held it out, and he measured six (measures) of barley and put them on her, and went to the city40 . 16. She came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “Who are you, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man did to her. 17. She said, “These six (measures) of barley he gave to me, for he said to me41 , “Do not go empty to your mother-in-law.”” 18. She said, “Wait, my daughter until you will know how the matter will fall, for the man will not be undisturbed until this matter is completed today.

Discussion There are two incidences of words pointed but not existing in the consonantal Hebrew text, in verses 5 and 17. The Masora parva (small notes made by the Masorites in the margins) here say (translated) “Read but not written”. The measure that Boaz uses with the barley is unspecified and there is no word in the text where (measures) has been inserted. Some qal forms with 2f.s. vowels have an extra yod at the end, possibly representing a 1s. verb, but this is syntactically unlikely.

40 41

She went to the city differs by only one letter and is found in variant readings. c.f. previous footnote on same word

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Chapter 4 1. And Boaz went up to the gate and sat there, and there42 the redeemer was passing through, whom Boaz had spoken about. He said, “Turn aside and sit here, (name intentionally omitted)43 ,” and he turned aside and sat down. 2. He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here,” and they sat down. 3. And he said to the redeemer, “The share of the field that was to Elimelech Naomi is selling44 , who has returned from the field of Moab. 4. I had said I will reveal in your ears, saying, ‘Buy in the sight of those sitting and in the sight of the elders of my people: if you redeem, redeem, if not tell that to me, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem.” 5. Boaz said, “In the day that you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, Ruth the Moabitess wife of the dead you buy45 , to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” 6. The redeemer said, “It cannot redeem it to me, lest I ruin my inheritance; redeem it to you yourself with my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem.” 7. Now this was formerly46 in Israel, on the redemption and on the exchange to confirm47 the whole matter, a man drew out his sandal and gave it to (his) other person, and this was the attestation in Israel. 8. And the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself,” so he removed his sandal. 9. Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought all that was to Elimelech and all that was to Machlon and Kilyon, from the hand of Naomi, 10. and also Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Machlon, I have bought to be to me for a wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance. The name of the dead has not been cut off from with his brothers and from the gate of his locality - you are witnesses today.” 11. All the people that were at the gate, and the elders said, “(We are) witnesses. May the LORD give the woman coming to your house like Rachel and like Leah, the two of them48 who built the house of Israel. Act worthily in Ephrathah, and (your) name will be proclaimed49 in Bethlehem. 42

Heb. hinneh BDB pg. 811, c.f. The Bible Translator[2] 44 Heb. perfect tense 45 with extra yod at end 46 BDB pg. 816, p¯aneh 6. 47 Odd pi‘el of 2-waw verb 48 Heb. m.p. 49 Heb. impersonal qal 43

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12. May your50 house be like the house of Perez, that Tamar bore to Judah, from the offspring that the LORD will give to you51 from this young woman.” (Space in Heb. text) 13. Boaz took Ruth, and she was to him for a wife, and he came to her, and the LORD gave to her conception, and she gave birth to a son. 14. The women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD, who did not cause it to fail for you to have a redeemer today, and may his name be proclaimed in Israel. 15. He will be to you for one who brings back life itself52 and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given birth, who is better to you than seven sons.” 16. Naomi took the child and placed him in her bosom, and she was to him for a (foster-mother/nurse). 17. And the female-neighbours called him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi,” and they called his name Obed - he was the father of Jesse father of David. (Space in Heb. text) 18. Here are the generations53 of Perez: 19. Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab. 20. Amminadab fathered Nachshon, and Nachshon fathered Salmah. 21. Salmon54 fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed. 22. Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Masoretic Note T HE SUM OF THE VERSES OF THE BOOK : 85 A ND ITS HALF, “R UTH THE M OABITESS SAID ”55 A ND DIVISIONS : 2

Discussion It is worth mentioning that in the second-last paragraph (staring with “Boaz took Ruth..”, there are many instances of the Hebrew idiom person lamedh-pronoun lamedh-role. The object marker is used consistently in the geneology, which is peculiar due to its absence in many other places where it would be much more useful.

50

Heb. m.s. Heb. m.s. 52 Heb. n´ephesh 53 Heb. toledoth 54 The names Salmah and Salmon can probably be assumed to be equivalent 55 Ru. 2:21 51

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Polished Translation

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Chapter 1 1

In the days when the judges governed, there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah went down to dwell in the fields of Moab - he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Machlon and Kilyon, Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the fields of Moab and stayed there. 3 Now Elimelech the husband of Naomi died; she and her two sons remained. 4 They took to themselves Moabite wives - the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the second Ruth, and they lived there about ten years. 5 Both Machlon and Kilyon also died; the woman remained from her two sons and husband. 6 She and her daughters-in-law arose to return from the fields of Moab, for she heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had attended to his people, giving them food. 7 She went out from the place that she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Depart and go back, each of you to the house of her mother, and the LORD will show kindness1 , like you have with the dead and me. 9 The LORD will provide and you shall find rest, each woman in the house of her husband.” She kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept. 10 They said to her, “With you we shall return to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters, go, for I am too old to have a husband, even if I said that I have hope that I would have a husband tonight, even if I would then also bear sons, 12 would therefore you wait until those grew up? Would therefore you shut yourselves off and not be to husbands? No, my daughters; it is very bitter for me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” 13 They lifted up their voice and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth to her clung. 14 She said, “See, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and gods. Return, therefore, after your sister-in-law.” 15 And Ruth said, “Do not entreat me to forsake you, to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people is my people and your God is my God. 16 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. The LORD will do to me this and more if but death separates me and you.” 17 And she saw that she was determined to go with her, so she ceased to say more to her. 18 The two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred on their account. The women said, “Is this Naomi?” 19 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi2 ; call me Mara3 , for Shaddai has shown me much bitterness. 20 I went filled, but empty the LORD has brought me back. Why do you call me Naomi; the LORD has afflicted me, Shaddai has dealt unkindly with me.” 21 Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who had returned from the fields of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest of barley.

1

Heb. h.e´sed Naomi means pleasant. 3 Mara means bitter. 2

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Chapter 2 1

Naomi had a relative of her husband, a man of worthy character, from the tribe of Elimelech; his name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean the ears of grain behind those I find favour with.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 She went and started to glean in the field behind the harvesters, and she happened upon the piece of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s clan. 4 Now Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the harvesters, “The L ORD be with you!”, and they said to him, “May the LORD bless you!” 5 And Boaz said to the young man who was appointed over the harvesters, “To whom does that young woman belong?” 6 The young man who was appointed over the harvesters replied, saying, “The young woman is a Moabitess, who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Let me glean and gather in the sheaves after the harvesters.’ And she came and remained from then in the morning until now, except for her sitting in the house a little.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen intently, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field, nor go out from this one; keep close to my young women. 9 Keep your eyes on the field that is being harvested, and follow them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you thirst, go to the vessels and drink some of the water that the young men draw.” 10 She fell on her face and bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why did I find favour in your eyes, regarding me, though I am a foreigner?” 11 Boaz answered her, saying, “Told, told to me is all that you have done with your mother-in-law after the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land that you were born in, and went to a people that you did not know. 12 The L ORD will compensate your action and give you your full reward from the L ORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” 13 She said, “May I continue to find favour in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken on the heart of your maidservant, and my lord, I am not the equal of one of your maidservants.” 14 And Boaz said to her, “When it is time to eat, come hither, and eat from the bread and dip your piece in the vinegar.” She sat beside the harvesters and he held out to her roasted grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and had more than enough. 15 She arose to glean, and Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Also between the sheaves let her glean, and do not put her to shame; 16 also indeed draw out from the bundles and leave that for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 She gleaned in the field until evening, and she beat out her gleanings, about an ephah of barley. 18 She took that up and came to the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she brought out and gave to her what was left over when she was satisfied. 19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today and where did you work? Let him who noticed you be blessed!” She told to her mother-in-law what she did with him, and she said the name of the man with whom she worked that day was Boaz. 20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “He is blessed to the L ORD , whose kindness4 has not left the living and the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is close to us; he is one of our redeemers.” 21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘Cling to my young men, until they complete the 4

Heb. h.e´sed

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whole harvest.’” 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young men, and you are not met with hostility in another field.” 23 She clung to the young women of Boaz to glean until the end of the harvests of barley and wheat, and she lived with her mother-in-law.

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Chapter 3 1

And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not indeed find rest for you, so that it may go well for you?” 2 For is not Boaz, with whose young women you have been, our relative? See, he is winnowing the barley at the threshing-floor tonight. 3 Wash and anoint yourself and put your garment on yourself and go down to the threshing-floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, remark the place that he lies, and then come and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what you should do.” 5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.” 6 She went down to the threshing-floor and did all that her mother-in-law directed. 7 And Boaz ate and drank, and it was well in his heart, and he came to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came undetectably and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 And in the middle of the night, the man was startled, and he turned over, and behold, a woman was lying down at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread out the corners of your garment5 on your maidservant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 He said, “Blessed you are to the L ORD , my daughter; you have made this latter kindness6 better than the first, not going after the young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, do not be afraid: all that you say I will do for you, for all the citizens of my people know that you are a woman of worthy character. 12 But now, I am indeed a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer closer than I. 13 Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he redeems you, good, let him redeem you; but if he does not desire to redeem you, I shall redeem you, by the life of the LORD. Lie down until the morning.” 14 She lay at his feet until the morning, and arose before a man can recognize another. He said, “Do not make it known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.” 15 He said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing, and hold it out.” She held it out, and he measured six measures of barley, and put them on her, and went to the city. 16 She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “Who are you, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man did for her. 17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 And she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall, for the man will not rest until this matter is settled.”

5 6

The Hebrew for extremities of garment can also mean wings. Heb. h.e´sed

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Chapter 4 1

And Boaz went up to the gate and sat there, and the redeemer about whom Boaz had spoken was passing through. He said, “Turn aside and sit down here7 ,” and he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten of the elders of the city, saying, “Sit down here,” and they sat down. 3 And he said to the redeemer, “The share of the field that belonged to Elimelech Naomi is selling; she has returned from the field of Moab. 4 So I decided to tell you this, to say, ‘Buy such in the sight of those sitting here and the elders of my people. If you will redeem, then redeem, but if not, tell that to me, for I know that there is but you to redeem, and I come after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem.” 5 Boaz said, “In the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, Ruth the Moabitess, wife of the dead you buy also, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem if myself, lest I ruin my inheritance; redeem it yourself, with my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem.” 7 Now formerly in Israel, when redeeming and exchanging, to confirm the whole matter a man would draw out his sandal and give it to the other, and this was the certification in Israel. 8 Therefore when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself,” he removed his sandal. 9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that was Elimelech’s, and all that belonged to Machlon and Kilyon; 10 also Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Machlon, I have bought to be my wife, in order to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance. The name of the dead has not been cut off from his brothers and the gate of his abode - you are witnesses today.” 11 All the people at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD give to the woman coming to your house like he did to Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah, and may your name be proclaimed in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring that the LORD will give to you from this young woman.” 13 Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. He came to her, and the L ORD gave to her conception, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD, who did not fail for you to have a redeemer today; may his name be proclaimed in Israel. 15 He will be for you one who brings back life itself8 and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth.” 16 Naomi took the child and placed him in her bosom, and she became his nurse. 17 The neighbouring women named him, saying, “A son is born to Naomi,” calling his name Obed; he was the father of Jesse, father of David. 18 And these are the generations9 of Perez: 19 Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab. 20 Amminadab fathered Nachshon, and Nachshon fathered Salmah. 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed. 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

7

The subject’s name was intentionally omitted in the Hebrew. Heb. n´ephesh 9 Heb. t¯ol¨edot ¯ ¯ 8

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Bibliography [1] Francis Brown, The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: With an Appendix Containing the Biblical Aramaic. Hendrickson Publishers, Massachusetts, 2006. [2] De Ward, Jan, Translators’ Handbook of Ruth. The Bible Translator, Oct. 1970, 157-169. [3] Packer, J.I., et al. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 2001.

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