1. Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side named Boaz. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family.
2. Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain 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 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.” “The Lord bless you,” 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.”
8. Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, 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.