1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side named Boaz. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family.
2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “ Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone who allows me to? ” Naomi answered her, “ Go ahead, my daughter.”
3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “ The LORD be with you.”“ The LORD bless you,” they replied.
5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “ Whose young woman is this? ”
6 The servant answered, “ She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7 She asked, ‘ Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters ? ’ She came and has remained from early morning until now, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “ Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants.
9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you ? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”
10 She bowed with her face to the ground and said to him, “ Why are you so kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner? ”
11 Boaz answered her, “ Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know.
12 May the LORD reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
13 “ My lord,” she said, “ you have been so kind to me, for you have comforted and encouraged your slave, although I am not like one of your female servants.”
