Ruth 2:4-17
International Standard Version
4 Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.”
“May the Lord bless you!” they replied.
5 At this point, Boaz asked the foreman of[a] his harvesters, “To whom does this young woman belong?”
6 The foreman of[b] the harvesters answered, “She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She asked us, ‘Please allow me to glean what’s left of the grain behind the harvesters.’ So she came out and has continued working[c] from dawn until now, except for a short time in a shelter.”
Boaz Shows Kindness to Ruth
8 Boaz then addressed Ruth: “Listen, my daughter![d] Don’t glean in any other field. Don’t even leave this one, and be sure to stay close to my women servants. 9 Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I’ve ordered my young men not to bother[e] you, haven’t I? And when you are thirsty, drink from the water vessels that the young men have filled.”
10 At this she fell prostrate, bowing low to the ground, and asked him, “Why is it that you’re showing me kindness by noticing me, since I’m a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “It has been clearly disclosed to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband—how you left your father, your mother, and your own land behind, and came to a people you did not previously know. 12 May the Lord repay you for your work, and may a full reward be given you from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings[f] you have come for refuge.”
13 She responded, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, sir, since you’ve been comforting me and you have spoken graciously to[g] your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.”
14 At lunchtime, Boaz invited her, “Come on over, have some food, and dip your bread in our oil and[h] vinegar.” So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he handed her some roasted grain, which she ate until she was satisfied. She kept what was left over.
Boaz the Benefactor
15 After she had left to glean, Boaz commanded his servants,[i] “Allow her to glean also among the cut sheaves, and don’t taunt her. 16 One other thing[j]—drop some handfuls[k] deliberately, leaving them for her so she can gather it. And don’t bother her.” 17 So Ruth[l] gathered grain out in the field until dusk, and then threshed what she had gathered—about a week’s supply[m] of barley.
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- Ruth 2:5 Or the young man over
- Ruth 2:6 Or The young man over
- Ruth 2:7 The Heb. lacks working
- Ruth 2:8 Lit. Will you not listen, my daughter?
- Ruth 2:9 Or touch
- Ruth 2:12 Or garment; cf. 3:9
- Ruth 2:13 Lit. spoken to the heart of
- Ruth 2:14 The Heb. lacks oil and
- Ruth 2:15 Or young men
- Ruth 2:16 Lit. her. 16 Also
- Ruth 2:16 Or portions
- Ruth 2:17 Lit. she
- Ruth 2:17 Lit. an ephah; i.e. enough to support Naomi and Ruth for at least five or six days
Ruth 2:4-17
Lexham English Bible
4 And look, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” And they said to him, “May Yahweh bless you.” 5 And Boaz said to his servant in charge of the reapers,[a] “To whom does this young woman belong?” 6 And the servant in charge of the reapers[b] said, “She is a Moabite girl returning with Naomi from the countryside of Moab. 7 And 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.”[c]
8 And Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully,[d] my daughter, go no longer to glean in another field. Moreover, do not leave from this one, but stay close[e] with my young women. 9 Keep 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.” 10 And 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?” 11 And 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.[f] 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.” 13 And she said, “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your servant,[g] and I am not one of your servants.”
14 And Boaz said to her at mealtime,[h] “Come here and eat from the bread and dip your morsel in the wine vinegar.” So she sat beside the gleaners, and he offered to her roasted grain. And she ate and was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 And she got up to glean, and Boaz instructed his servants saying, “Let her also glean between the sheaves and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out for her from your bundles and leave it so that she may glean—and do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until the evening and she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
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- Ruth 2:5 Literally “the one standing over the reapers”
- Ruth 2:6 Literally “the servant the one standing over the reapers”
- Ruth 2:7 Literally “this one she is sitting a little in the house”
- Ruth 2:8 Literally, “You have heard”
- Ruth 2:8 Literally “cling”
- Ruth 2:11 Literally “yesterday three days ago”
- Ruth 2:13 Literally “on the heart of your servant”
- Ruth 2:14 Literally “at the time of the food”
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