Rut 2:1-10 | HCSB | STEP | Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side named Boaz . He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family .

Ruth 2:1-10

1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side named Boaz. He was a prominent man of noble character ^a from Elimelech’s family.

2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain ^b 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 ^c 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.” ^d“The Lord bless you,” ^e 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.” ^{▼▼LXX reads until evening she has not stopped in the field; Vg reads now and she did not return to the house; Hb uncertain}

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. ^{▼▼Lit Haven’t you heard, my daughter?} 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? ^{▼▼Either sexual or physical harassment} When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

10 She bowed with her face to the ground ⁱ and said to him, “Why are you so kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner?”