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12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 3 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part; but if he be not willing to do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth; lie down until the morning.' 14 And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could discern another. For he said: 'Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshingfloor.' 15 And he said: 'Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it'; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said: 'Who art thou, my daughter?' And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said: "These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me: Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.' 18 Then said she: 'Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.'

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Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there; and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said: 'Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here.' And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said: 'Sit ye down here.' And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the near kinsman: Naomi, that is come back out of the field of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elime

lech's; 4 and I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying: Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.' And he said: 'I will redeem it.' 5 Then said Boaz: 'What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi-hast thou also bought of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance?' 6 And the near kinsman said: 'I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance; take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.'-7 Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour; and this was the attestation in Israel.-8 So the near kinsman said unto Boaz: 'Buy it for thyself.' And he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people: 'Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I acquired to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place; ye are witnesses this day.' 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said: 'We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did

build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily in Ephrath, and be famous in Beth-lehem; 12 and let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.' 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi: 'Blessed be the LORD, who hath not left thee this day without a near kinsman, and let his name be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.' 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying: "There is a son born to Naomi'; and they called his name Obed; he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

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LAMENTATIONS

Lament for Zion

How doth the city sit solitary,

That was full of people!

How is she become as a widow!

She that was great among the nations,
And princess among the provinces,
How is she become tributary!

2 She weepeth sore in the night,
And her tears are on her cheeks;
She hath none to comfort her

Among all her lovers;

All her friends have dealt treacherously with

her,

They are become her enemies.

3 Judah is gone into exile because of affliction, And because of great servitude;

She dwelleth among the nations,

She findeth no rest;

All her pursuers overtook her
Within the straits.

4 The ways of Zion do mourn,

Because none come to the solemn assembly;

All her gates are desolate,

Her priests sigh;

Her virgins are afflicted,

And she herself is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries are become the head, Her enemies are at ease;

For the LORD hath afflicted her

For the multitude of her transgressions;
Her young children are gone into captivity
Before the adversary.

6 And gone is from the daughter of Zion
All her splendour;

Her princes are become like harts

That find no pasture,

And they are gone without strength
Before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembereth

In the days of her affliction and of her anguish

All her treasures that she had

From the days of old;

Now that her people fall by the hand of the adversary,

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And none doth help her,

The adversaries have seen her,

They have mocked at her desolations.
8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned,
Therefore she is become as one unclean;
All that honoured her despise her,
Because they have seen her nakedness;
She herself also sigheth,

And turneth backward.

9 Her filthiness was in her skirts,
She was not mindful of her end;
Therefore is she come down wonderfully.
She hath no comforter.

'Behold, O LORD, my affliction,

For the enemy hath magnified himself.' 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand Upon all her treasures;

For she hath seen that the heathen
Are entered into her sanctuary,

Concerning whom Thou didst command That they should not enter into Thy congregation.

11 All her people sigh,

They seek bread;

They have given their pleasant things for food

To refresh the soul.

'See, O LORD, and behold,

How abject I am become.'

12 'Let it not come unto you, all ye that pass by! Behold, and see

If there be any pain like unto my pain,

Which is done unto me,

Wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me

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