Ruth 2

Revised Geneva Translation

2 Then Naomi’s husband had a kinsman, one of great power, of the family of Elimelech. And his name was Boaz.

² And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and gather ears of corn after him in whose sight I find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

³ And she went; and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And it happened that she came upon the portion of the field of Boaz (who was of the family of Elimelech).

⁴ And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you.”

⁵ Then Boaz said to his servant who was appointed over the reapers, “Whose maid is this?”

⁶ And the servant who was appointed over the reapers answered, and said, “It is the Moabitish maid who came with Naomi out of the country of Moab.”

⁷ “And she said to us, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued from that time in the morning until now, except for a little time spent in the house.”

⁸ Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Hear me, my daughter. Go to no other field to gather, nor go from here. But stay here by my maidens.

⁹ “Let your eyes be on the field that they reap and do as they do. Have I not charged the servants that they do not touch you? Moreover, when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink of that which the servants have drawn.”

¹⁰ Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground and said to him, “How have I found favor in your eyes, that you should know me, seeing I am a stranger?”

¹¹ And Boaz answered and said to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been told and shown to me, how you have left your father and your mother and the land where you were born and have come to a people which you have not known.

¹² “May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from the LORD God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to trust.”

¹³ Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord. For you have comforted me and spoken comfortably to your maid, though I am not like one of your maids.”

¹⁴ And Boaz said to her, “At mealtime, come here and eat from the food. And dip your morsel in the vinegar.” And she sat beside the reapers. And he gave her parched corn. And she ate and was satisfied. And even left some of it.

¹⁵ And when she arose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her gather among the sheaves; and do not rebuke her.

¹⁶ “Also, let some of the sheaves fall for her; and let it lie, so that she may gather it up. And do not rebuke her.”

¹⁷ So she gleaned in the field until evening. And she threshed that which she had gathered. And it was about an ephah of barley.

¹⁸ And she took it up and went into the city. And her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Also, she gave to her that which she had saved, after she was full.

¹⁹ Then, her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed is he who knew you.” And she showed her mother-in-law for whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name for whom I worked today, is Boaz.”

²⁰ And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD. For he does not cease to do good to the living and to the dead. The man is near to us, and in our family.”

²¹ And Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, “You shall be with my servants until they have ended all my harvest.”

²² And Naomi answered Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is best, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that they do not meet you in another field.”

²³ Then she stayed by the maids of Boaz, to gather until the end of barley harvest, and of wheat harvest, and dwelt with her mother-in-law.