9. “Who are you?” he asked.“It's Ruth, sir,” she answered. “Because you are a close relative, you are responsible for taking care of me. So please marry me.”
10. “The Lord bless you,” he said. “You are showing even greater family loyalty in what you are doing now than in what you did for your mother-in-law. You might have gone looking for a young man, either rich or poor, but you didn't.
11. Now don't worry, Ruth. I will do everything you ask; as everyone in town knows, you are a fine woman.
12. It is true that I am a close relative and am responsible for you, but there is a man who is a closer relative than I am.
13. Stay here the rest of the night, and in the morning we will find out whether or not he will take responsibility for you. If so, well and good; if not, then I swear by the living Lord that I will take the responsibility. Now lie down and stay here till morning.”