Ruth 2:2-9

Holman Christian Standard Bible

² Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain^(A) behind someone who allows me to?”

Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” ³ So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened^(B) to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.

⁴ Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.”^(C)

“The Lord bless you,”^(D) they replied.

⁵ Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”

⁶ The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. ⁷ She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has remained from early morning until now, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”^[a]

⁸ Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter.^[b] Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. ⁹ See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you?^[c] When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”