1Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a prominent and wealthy man of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
2Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and gather leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter."
3So she went out, entered a field, and began to glean behind the harvesters. By chance, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the family of Elimelech.
4Just then, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" They responded, "The LORD bless you!"
5Boaz asked the servant who was in charge of the harvesters, "Whose young woman is this?"
6The servant replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7"She asked, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She came and has been working steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."
8So Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field, and do not leave this one. Stay close to my young women.