Ruth Gleans in the Fields of Boaz |
Ruth 2:1-23 The Book of Ruth [in Smaller Chunks] |
A [relative of Naomi’s husband,] a mighty man of wealth [from] the family of Elimelech, was [named] Boaz. And Ruth, the Moabitess, said to Naomi, Let me go out to the field now & glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I may find grace. |
[Naomi] said, Go, my daughter. [Ruth] went & gleaned in the field after the reapers & she [happened to glean] on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, the [relative] of Elimelech. |
[Look,] Boaz came from Bethlehem & said to the reapers, The Lord be with you. They answered him, [May] the Lord bless you. Then, Boaz [asked] his servant, [who] was over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? The servant [answered,] It is the Moabitish [woman who] came back with Naomi [from] the country of Moab. |
[Ruth had asked,] I pray [that] you let me glean & gather after the reapers among the sheaves? So she came & has continued from morning until now [though she rested] a little in the house. |
Then, Boaz said to Ruth, My daughter, hear [me & don’t] go & glean in another field [or] leave from [here,] but [stay close] by my maidens [who glean.] [Watch,] the field [where] they [are reaping] & go after them. |
I have [ordered] the young men that they shall not touch you. When you are [thirsty] go to the vessels & drink [what] the young men have drawn. [Ruth] fell on her face & bowed to the ground & said to [Boaz,] Why have I found grace in your [sight,] that you [pay attention] to me, [since] I am a stranger? |
Boaz answered, It has been [shown to] me all you have done [for] your mother-in-law since the death of your husband & you left your [family] & land [of your birth] & came to a people [that] you [hadn't known before]. |
The Lord [repays] your work, a full reward [is] given to you [from] the Lord God of Israel, [you’ve] come to trust, [Who protects you under His wing.] [Ruth] said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me & spoken [kindly] to your handmaid, though [I’m] not like one of your [handmaids.] |
Boaz said to her, At mealtime, come [here] & eat the bread & dip [it] in the vinegar. [Ruth] sat beside the reapers & [Boaz handed Ruth] some [dried] corn & she [ate] & was [satisfied] & left. |
When [Ruth rose] up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves & don’t [stop] her. Also, let some handfuls [of grain] fall [on] purpose & leave them, [so] she may glean them & [don’t scold] her. |
[Ruth] gleaned in the field [until evening] & beat out [what] she had gleaned & it was about an ephah of barley. [Ruth] took it & went up into the city & [Naomi] saw what she had gleaned. [Ruth] brought [it] & gave it to [Naomi,] who [took what she needed]. |
[Naomi] said, Where [have] you gleaned today? Where did you [work?] Blessed [is] he [who acknowledged] you. [Ruth told Naomi,] The man’s name is Boaz. Naomi said to [Ruth,] Blessed is he of the Lord, who [has not forgotten] his kindness to the living & to the dead. |
The man is a near [relative] to us. Ruth said, He also said to me, You shall [stay close] to my young men until they have ended all my harvest. Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, It’s good, my daughter, that you go with his maidens, [so] they [don’t] meet you in any other field. |
So, [Ruth stayed close] by the maidens of Boaz to glean [until] the end of the barley harvest & wheat harvest & [lived] with her mother-in-law. |