Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a wealthy and influential man from the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Naomi's daughter-in-law Ruth said to her, "Let me now go to the field and glean ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." Naomi agreed, saying, "Go, my daughter."

Ruth went out into the field, gleaning among the reapers as they worked. She happened upon a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was a relative of her late husband's family. As she continued to glean, Boaz came from Bethlehem and greeted the workers, saying, "May the Lord be with you." They replied, "May the Lord bless you."

Boaz then approached his servant in charge of the reapers and asked, "Whose young woman is this?" The servant replied that it was Ruth, a Moabite woman who had returned from Moab with Naomi. Boaz learned that she had been gleaning among the sheaves since morning, taking a short break in her own home.

Boaz approached Ruth and said, "Do you hear me, my daughter? Don't go to glean in another field; stay here with my young women. Let your eyes be on the field where they are reaping, and follow them. I've instructed the young men not to touch you, and when you're thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what they have drawn."

Ruth fell to her face, bowing down in gratitude, and asked Boaz, "Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should notice me, a foreigner?" Boaz replied, "It has been fully shown me all that you've done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband: how you left your family and homeland to come to a people you didn't know."

The Lord will reward you generously for what you've done, said Boaz. He added, "God of Israel under whose wings you have taken refuge will give you a rich reward." Ruth expressed her appreciation for Boaz's kindness, saying, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not like one of your servants."

Boaz invited Ruth to join the reapers at mealtime, offering her bread with vinegar. She sat among them, and he provided her with parched grain, which she ate and was satisfied. When it was time for Ruth to continue gleaning, Boaz instructed his young men to let her gather grain even among the sheaves, without rebuking her.

As a result of Boaz's instructions, some of the grain fell from their bundles intentionally, allowing Ruth to collect it. She worked until evening, gathering and threshing out what she had collected – about an ephah of barley. Taking up her harvest, Ruth went into the city, where her mother-in-law Naomi welcomed her with joy.

Naomi asked Ruth about her day's work and where she had gleaned. Ruth replied that she had worked in a field belonging to Boaz, whose kindness had blessed her. Naomi praised the man of God who continued to show kindness not only to the living but also to the dead, recognizing him as one of their close relatives.

Ruth told Naomi about Boaz's instructions for her to stay with his young women until they finished harvesting. Naomi advised Ruth to continue working closely with them, so they wouldn't encounter her in another field. And so Ruth remained with the young women, gleaning until both the barley and wheat harvests were complete. She lived with her mother-in-law Naomi, surrounded by God's kindness.