2. The name of the man was ELIMELECH, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and lived there.

3. ELIMELECH, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

1. Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of ELIMELECH, and his name was Boaz.

2. Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor."She said to her, "Go, my daughter."

3. He said to the near kinsman, "Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother ELIMELECH's.

4. I thought I should tell you, saying, 'Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people.' If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem it besides you; and I am after you."He said, "I will redeem it."

5. Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance."

6. The near kinsman said, "I can't redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can't redeem it."

7. Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of legalizing transactions in Israel.

8. So the near kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," then he took off his shoe.

9. Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, "You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was ELIMELECH's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi.