Ruth 2:1-13 ▼

1 Naomi had a close relative of her late husband, a man of considerable wealth from the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.

2 Ruth the Moabite told Naomi, |Please allow me to go out to the fields and glean grain behind anyone who shows me kindness.| So Naomi replied, |Go ahead, my daughter.|

3 So she went out, proceeded to the field, and gleaned behind the harvesters. And it happened that she came to the portion of land belonging to Boaz, of the family of Elimelech.

4 Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, |The LORD be with you.| |May the LORD bless you!| they replied.

5 At this point, Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, |To whom does this young woman belong?|

6 The foreman of the harvesters answered, |She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

7 She asked us, 'Please allow me to glean what's left of the grain behind the harvesters.' So she came out and has continued working from dawn until now, except for a short time in a shelter.|

8 Boaz then addressed Ruth: |Listen, my daughter! Don't glean in any other field. Don't even leave this one, and be sure to stay close to my women servants.

9 Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I've ordered my young men not to bother you, haven't I? And when you are thirsty, drink from the water vessels that the young men have filled.|

10 At this she fell prostrate, bowing low to the ground, and asked him, |Why is it that you're showing me kindness by noticing me, since I'm a foreigner?|

11 Boaz answered her, |It has been clearly disclosed to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband—how you abandoned your father, your mother, and your own land, and came to a people you did not previously know.

12 May the LORD repay you for your work, and may a full reward be given you from the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.|

13 She responded, |May I continue to find favor in your sight, sir, since you've been comforting me and you have spoken graciously to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.|