Boaz and Ruth Meet

2:4 Now at that very moment,11 Boaz arrived from Bethlehem12 and greeted13 the harvesters, “May the Lord be with you!” They replied,14 “May the Lord bless you!” 2:5 Boaz asked15 his servant16 in charge of the harvesters, “To whom does this young woman belong?”17 2:6 The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, “She’s the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. 2:7 She asked,18 ‘May I follow the harvesters and gather19 grain among the bundles?’20 Since she arrived she has been working hard21 from this morning until now22—except for23 sitting24 in the resting hut25 a short time.”26

2:8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully,27 my dear!28 Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not29 go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside30 my female workers.31 2:9 Take note of32 the field where the men33 are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers.34 I will tell the men35 to leave you alone.36 When you are thirsty, you may go to37 the water jars38 and drink some of the water39 the servants draw.”40

2:10 Ruth41 knelt before him with her forehead to the ground42 and said to him, “Why are you so kind43 and so attentive to me,44 even though45 I am a foreigner?”46 2:11 Boaz replied to her,47 “I have been given a full report of48 all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband—how you left49 your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously.50 2:12 May the Lord reward your efforts!51 May your acts of kindness be repaid fully52 by the Lord God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!”53 2:13 She said, “You really are being kind to me,54 sir,55 for you have reassured56 and encouraged57 me, your servant,58 even though I am59 not one of your servants!”60

2:14 Later during the mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and have61 some food! Dip your bread62 in the vinegar!” So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed63 her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and saved the rest.64 2:15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told65 his male servants, “Let her gather grain even among66 the bundles! Don’t chase her off!67 2:16 Make sure you pull out68 ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don’t tell her not to!”69 2:17 So she gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed70 what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds71 of barley!