Ruth 2:1–13

Ruth Meets Boaz

2Now^a Naomi had a relative of her husband,^b a prominent rich man^c from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. ²And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after someone in whose eyes I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” ³So she went and came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. And she happened by chance upon the tract of field belonging to^d Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. ⁴And look, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” And they said to him, “May Yahweh bless you.” ⁵And Boaz said to his servant in charge of the reapers,^e “To whom does this young woman belong?” ⁶And the servant in charge of the reapers^f said, “She is a Moabite girl returning with Naomi from the countryside of Moab. ⁷And she said, ‘Please let me glean and let me gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came and remained from the morning up to now. She is sitting for a little while in the house.”^g

⁸And Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully,^h my daughter, go no longer to glean in another field. Moreover, do not leave from this one, but stay closeⁱ with my young women. ⁹Keep your eyes on the field that they reap and go after them. Have I not ordered the servants not to bother you? And if you get thirsty, you shall go to the containers and drink from where the servants have drawn.” ¹⁰And she fell on her face and bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes by recognizing me—for I am a foreigner?” ¹¹And Boaz answered and said to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband was fully told to me. How you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and you went to a people that you did not know before.^{j 12}May Yahweh reward your work and may a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you came to take refuge.” ¹³And she said, “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your servant,^k and I am not one of your servants.”