Ruth 2:1-13 ▼

1 Naomi had a kinsman 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 shall find favor.| She said to her, |Go, my daughter.|

3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

4 Look, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, |The LORD be with you.| They answered him, |The LORD bless you.|

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, |Whose young woman is this?|

6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, |It is the Moabite woman who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.

7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.|

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, |Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field, and do not go from here, but stay here close to my maidens.

9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven't I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.|

10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, |Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?|

11 Boaz answered her, |It has fully been shown to me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn't know before.

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

13 Then she said, |Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.|