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Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, ‘Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen corn(A) behind someone with whom I find favour? ’

Naomi answered her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ So Ruth left and entered the field to gather corn behind the harvesters. She happened(B) to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.

Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, ‘The Lord be with you.’(C)

‘The Lord bless you,’(D) they replied.

Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, ‘Whose young woman is this? ’

The servant answered, ‘She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. She asked, “Will you let me gather fallen corn among the bundles behind the harvesters? ” She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.’[a]

Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Listen, my daughter.[b] Don’t go and gather corn in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.’

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Footnotes

  1. 2:7 LXX reads morning, and until evening she has not rested in the field a little; Vg reads morning until now and she did not return to the house; Hb uncertain
  2. 2:8 Lit ‘Haven’t you heard, my daughter?