Ruth 2:4-17
World English Bible
4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.”
They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”
6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. 12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”
14 At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.”
She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it. 15 When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her. 16 Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2:17 1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
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