Ruth

Famine and Death

1:1During the time of the judges1 there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live temporarily in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.2 1:2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi,3 and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion.4 They were Ephrathites5 from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the region of Moab and settled there.6 1:3 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; she and her two sons were left alone. 1:4 Her sons married Moabite girls.7 (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.)8 They lived there for about ten years. 1:5 Then Naomi's two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died.9 The woman was left without her two children10 and her husband. 1:6 She started back home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law,11 because she heard in Moab12 that the LORD had provided food for his people.13 1:7 She and her two daughters-in-law left the place where she had been living and began the trip back to the land of Judah.14

Ruth Returns with Naomi

1:8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go! Go back, each of you, to your mother's home!15 May the LORD show you16 the same kind of devotion that you have shown to the dead17 and to me!18 1:9 May the LORD give each of you security in the home of a new husband!"19 Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly.20 1:10 They said to her, "No!21 We will22 return with you to your people."

1:11 But Naomi replied, "Go back, my daughters! Why would you want to come23 with me? Am I still capable of having sons and supplying you with husbands?24 1:12 Go back, my daughters! Go! For I am too old to get married again.25 Suppose I were to say, `I have hope!' Suppose I got married this very night and had sons.26 1:13 Would you wait until they were grown?27 Would you remain unmarried all that time?28 No,29 my daughters, you must not come with me.30 For you should not have to experience my intense suffering.31 After all, the LORD has attacked me."32

1:14 Again they wept loudly.33 Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye,34 but Ruth35 hugged her tightly.36 1:15 Then Naomi37 said, "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her god.38 Follow your sister-in-law back home!" 1:16 But Ruth replied, "Stop urging me to abandon you and to leave you!39 For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 1:17 Wherever you die, I will die and I will be buried there. The LORD will punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Nothing but death will separate you and me."40 1:18 When Naomi41 saw that Ruth42 was determined to go with her, she said no more about it.43 1:19 The two of them44 went on their way until they arrived in Bethlehem.

Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem

When they entered45 Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival.46 The women of the town said,47 "Can this be Naomi?"48 1:20 Naomi49 replied50 to them,51 "Don't call me `Naomi'!52 Call me `Mara'53 because the Sovereign One54 has treated me very harshly.55 1:21 I left here full,56 but the LORD has caused me to return empty-handed.57 Why do you call me `Naomi,' seeing that58 the LORD has opposed me59 and the Sovereign One60 has made me suffer?"61 1:22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabite girl who came back with her from the region of Moab.62 They63 arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.64

Ruth Goes to Work in the Field

2:1 Now Naomi1 had a relative2 on her husband's side named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech.3 2:2 Ruth the Moabite girl said to Naomi, "Let me go4 to the field so I can gather5 grain behind someone who permits me to do so."6 Naomi7 replied, "You may go, my daughter." 2:3 So Ruth8 went and gathered grain in the field9 behind the harvesters. She just happened to end up10 in the portion of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

Boaz and Ruth Meet

2:4 Now11 Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted12 the harvesters, "May the LORD be with you!" They replied,13 "May the LORD bless you!" 2:5 Boaz asked14 his servant,15 the one in charge of the harvesters, "To whom does this young woman belong?"16 2:6 The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, "She's a Moabite girl, the one who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. 2:7 She asked,17 `May I go behind the harvesters and gather18 grain among the bundles?'19 She has stayed here since she arrived. From this morning until right now, she has taken only a brief rest."20

2:8 So Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully,21 my daughter. Don't leave to gather grain in another field. You need not22 go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside23 my female workers.24 2:9 Take note of25 the field where the men26 are harvesting and follow along after the female workers.27 I will tell the servants28 to leave you alone.29 When you get thirsty, you may go to30 the water jars31 and drink some of the water32 the servants draw."33

2:10 Ruth34 knelt before him with her forehead to the ground35 and said to him, "Why are you so kind to me and so attentive, even though I am a foreigner?"36 2:11 Boaz replied to her,37 "I have been given a full report of38 all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband--how you left39 your father, your mother, and your homeland and came to live among people you did not know before. 2:12 May the LORD reward your efforts!40 May your wages be paid in full41 by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to find shelter!" 2:13 She said, "You really are being kind to me,42 my master, for you have reassured43 me and encouraged44 your servant,45 though I could never be46 equal to one of your servants."47

2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and have48 some food! Dip your bread49 in the vinegar!" So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed50 her some roasted grain. She ate what she wanted and saved the rest.51 2:15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told52 his servants, "Let her gather grain among53 the bundles! Don't chase her off!54 2:16 Make sure you pull out55 ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don't yell at her!"56 2:17 She gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed57 what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds58 of barley!

Ruth Returns to Naomi

2:18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw59 how much grain60 she had gathered. Then Ruth61 gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime.62 2:19 Her mother-in-law asked her,63 "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!"64 So Ruth65 told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." 2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be rewarded66 by the LORD because he has not abandoned his loyalty to the living or to the dead!"67 Then Naomi said to her, "This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian."68 2:21 Ruth the Moabite girl replied, "He even69 told me, `You may go along beside my servants70 until they have finished gathering all my harvest.'"71 2:22 Naomi then said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants.72 That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field."73 2:23 So Ruth74 worked beside75 Boaz's female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley and wheat harvests.76 After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law.77

Naomi Instructs Ruth

3:1 Her mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure.1 3:2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative.2 Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor.3 3:3 So bathe yourself,4 rub on some perfumed oil,5 and get dressed up.6 Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let the man know you're there until he finishes his meal.7 3:4 When he gets ready to go to sleep,8 take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs,9 and lie down beside him.10 He will tell11 you what you should do." 3:5 Ruth replied to Naomi,12 "I will do everything you tell13 me to do."14

Ruth Visits Boaz

3:6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.15 3:7 When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap.16 Then Ruth17 crept up quietly,18 uncovered his legs,19 and lay down beside him.20

3:8 In the middle of the night he was startled21 and rolled over.22 Then23 he saw a woman24 lying beside him.25 3:9 He said, "Who are you?"26 She replied, "I am Ruth, your servant.27 Marry your servant,28 for you are a guardian of the family interests."29 3:10 He said, "May you be rewarded30 by the LORD, my daughter! This latter act of devotion is greater than what you did before.31 You have not pursued one of the young men, whether poor or rich.32 3:11 Now, my daughter, don't worry!33 I intend to do for you everything you propose,34 for everyone in town35 knows that you are a worthy woman.36 3:12 Now yes, it is true that37 I am a guardian,38 but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. 3:13 Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you,39 fine,40 let him do so.41 But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the LORD lives, to marry you.42 Sleep here until morning."43

3:14 So she slept beside him44 until morning. She woke up while it was still dark.45 Boaz told her,46 "No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor."47 3:15 Then he said, "Hold out the shawl48 you are wearing49 and grip it tightly." As she gripped it tightly, he measured out about eighty pounds50 of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then she went into town.

3:16 When she approached her mother-in-law, Naomi51 asked,52 "How did things turn out for you,53 my daughter?" Ruth54 told her about all the man had done for her.55 3:17 She said, "He gave me these eighty pounds of barley, for he said to me, `Do not go to your mother-in-law empty handed.'"56 3:18 Then Naomi57 said, "Stay put,58 my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today."

Boaz Settles the Matter

4:1 Now Boaz went up1 to the town gate and sat there. Along came the guardian2 whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth.3 Boaz said, "Come4 here and sit down, Mr. So-and-so!"5 So he came6 and sat down. 4:2 Boaz chose ten of the town's leaders7 and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. 4:3 Then Boaz said to the guardian,8 "Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling9 the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. 4:4 So I am legally informing you:10 Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people!11 If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so.12 But if not, then tell me13 so I will know.14 For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you."15 He replied, "I will redeem it." 4:5 Then Boaz said, "When you acquire the field16 from Naomi,17 you also acquire Ruth the Moabite girl,18 the wife of our deceased relative,19 in order to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property."20 4:6 The guardian said, "Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance21 in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it."22 4:7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel:23 A man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party.24 This was a legally binding act25 in Israel.) 4:8 So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal.26 4:9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and to Kilion and Mahlon. 4:10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite girl, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife in order to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property27 so that the name of the deceased might not disappear28 from among his relatives and from his town.29 You are witnesses today." 4:11 All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! Then you will30 accomplish great things31 in Ephrathah and be famous32 in Bethlehem. 4:12 May your family, the descendants the LORD gives you through this young woman, be like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah!"33

Boaz and Ruth Have a Baby

4:13 So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her.34 The LORD allowed her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. 4:14 The women said to Naomi, "May the LORD be praised because he has not left you without a guardian35 today! May he36 be famous in Israel!37 4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old,38 for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She39 is better to you than seven sons!" 4:16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap;40 she became his caregiver.41 4:17 The neighbor women named him, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed.42 He was the father of Jesse, David's father.

From Perez to David

4:1843 These are the descendants44 of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron;

4:19 Hezron was the father of Ram;

Ram was the father of Amminadab;

4:20 Amminadab was the father of Nachshon;

Nachshon was the father of Salmah;

4:21 Salmon45 was the father of Boaz;

Boaz was the father of Obed;

4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse;

Jesse was the father of David.46