of
Moab; and she said, 'Let me pick up the scattered grain and gather
sheaves after the reapers.' So she came and has worked all the time
until now, and she has not rested a moment in the field."

Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Do not go to pick up grain
in another field nor leave this place, but stay here with my maidens. I
have told the young men not to trouble you. When you are thirsty, go to
the jars and drink of that which the young men have drawn."

Then she bowed low and said to him, "Why are you so kind to me, to take
interest in me who am from another land?" Boaz replied, "I have heard
what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your
husband, and how you left your father and mother and your native land to
come to a people that you did not know before. May Jehovah repay you for
what you have done, and may you be fully rewarded by the God of Israel,
under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Then she said, "I trust
I may please you, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly
to your servant, although I am not really equal to one of your own
servants."

At noonday Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some of the food and dip
your piece of bread in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers; and he
passed her the roasted grain, and she ate until she had had enough and
had some left. When she rose to gather grain, Boaz gave this order to
his young men: "Let her gather grain even among the sheaves and do not
disturb her. Also pull out some for her from the bundles and leave it
for her to gather and do not find fault with her."

So she gathered grain in the field until evening, then beat out that
which she had gathered; and it was about a bushel of barley. Then she
took it up and went into the city and showed her mother-in-law what she
had gathered. She also brought out and gave her that which she had left
from her meal after she had had enough.

Her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you gather grain to-day and
where did you work? A blessing on him who took interest in you!" Then
she told her mother-in-law where she had worked, and said, "The name of
the man with whom I worked to-day is Boaz." Naomi said to her
daughter-in-law, "May the blessing of Jehovah rest upon him who has not
ceased to show his love to the living and to the dead." Naomi also said
to her, "The man is a near relative of ours." Ruth the Moabitess added,
"He said to me, 'You must keep near my yo