Chapter 2

And Naomi had a kinsman ^{3045 30} of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name [was] Boaz.

And Ruth the Moabitess said⁴ unto Naomi, Let me now go⁴ to the field, and glean¹⁷ ears of corn after [him] in whose sight I shall find⁴ grace. And she said⁴ unto her, Go,³ my daughter.

And she went,⁴ and came,⁴ and gleaned¹⁷ in the field after the reapers:⁶ and her hap was to light⁴ on a part of the field [belonging] unto Boaz, who [was] of the kindred of Elimelech.

And, behold, Boaz came⁶ from Bethlehem, and said⁴ unto the reapers,⁶ The LORD [be] with you. And they answered⁴ him, The LORD bless¹⁷ thee.

Then said⁴ Boaz unto his servant that was set over¹² the reapers,⁶ Whose damsel [is] this?

And the servant that was set over¹² the reapers⁶ answered⁴ and said,⁴ It [is] the Moabitish damsel that came back¹ with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

And she said,⁴ I pray you, let me glean¹⁷ and gather¹ after the reapers⁶ among the sheaves: so she came,⁴ and hath continued⁴ even from the morning until now, that she tarried² a little in the house.

Then said⁴ Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest¹ thou not, my daughter? Go⁴ not to glean² in another field, neither go⁴ from hence, but abide here fast⁴ by my maidens:

[Let] thine eyes [be] on the field that they do reap,⁴ and go¹ thou after them: have I not charged¹⁴ the young men that they shall not touch² thee? and when thou art athirst,¹ go¹ unto the vessels, and drink¹ of [that] which the young men have drawn.⁴

Then she fell⁴ on her face, and bowed¹⁰¹ herself to the ground, and said⁴ unto him, Why have I found¹ grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge⁵³ of me, seeing I [am] a stranger?

And Boaz answered⁴ and said⁴ unto her, It hath fully⁹¹ been shewed⁹⁰ me, all that thou hast done¹ unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left⁴ thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come⁴ unto a people which thou knewest¹ not heretofore. ⁸⁰³²

The LORD recompense¹⁷ thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come¹ to trust.²

Then she said,⁴ Let me find⁴ favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted¹⁴ me, and for that thou hast spoken¹⁴ friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

And Boaz said⁴ unto her, At mealtime ⁴⁰⁰ come³ thou hither, and eat¹ of the bread, and dip¹ thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat⁴ beside the reapers:⁶ and he reached⁴ her parched [corn], and she did eat,⁴ and was sufficed,⁴ and left.⁵⁵

And when she was risen up⁴ to glean,¹⁵ Boaz commanded¹⁷ his young men, saying,² Let her glean¹⁷ even among the sheaves, and reproach⁵⁵ her not:

And let fall⁴ also [some] of the handfuls of purpose² for her, and leave¹ [them], that she may glean¹⁴ [them], and rebuke⁴ her not.

So she gleaned¹⁷ in the field until even, and beat out⁴ that she had gleaned:¹⁴ and it was about an ephah of barley.

And she took [it] up,⁴ and went⁴ into the city: and her mother in law saw⁴ what she had gleaned:¹⁴ and she brought forth,⁵⁵ and gave⁴ to her that she had reserved⁵² after she was sufficed.

And her mother in law said⁴ unto her, Where hast thou gleaned¹⁴ to day? and where wroughtest¹ thou? blessed⁷ be he that did take knowledge⁵⁶ of thee. And she shewed⁵⁵ her mother in law with whom she had wrought,¹ and said,⁴ The man's name with whom I wrought¹ to day [is] Boaz.

And Naomi said⁴ unto her daughter in law, Blessed⁷ [be] he of the LORD, who hath not left off¹ his kindness to the living and to the dead.⁵ And Naomi said⁴ unto her, The man [is] near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.⁶

And Ruth the Moabitess said,⁴ He said¹ unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast⁴ by my young men, until they have ended¹⁴ all my harvest.

And Naomi said⁴ unto Ruth her daughter in law, [It is] good, my daughter, that thou go out⁴ with his maidens, that they meet⁴ thee not in any other field.

So she kept fast⁴ by the maidens of Boaz to glean¹⁵ unto the end² of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt⁴ with her mother in law.