Ruth 2

God’s Provision Starts Showing

1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, dude was rich and respected. His name was Boaz.

2 Ruth told Naomi, “Let me hit the fields and pick up leftovers behind anybody who shows me some love.” Naomi said, “Go ahead, baby girl.”

3 So Ruth headed out and started gathering grain behind the workers. And check this, she just happened to end up in a field that belonged to Boaz, the same relative from Elimelech’s family.

Boaz Enters the Scene

4 Boaz pulled up from Bethlehem and said to his workers, “The Lord be with you all!” They said, “And the Lord bless you too!”

5 Then Boaz asked his crew chief, “Who is that girl over there?”

6 The foreman said, “That is the Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from Moab.”

7 “She asked if she could gather leftover grain. She been grinding all day, only took a short break.”

Boaz Blesses Ruth

8 Boaz went over and said, “Listen, sis, do not go to any other field. Stay here with my crew.”

9 “Keep your eyes on the field and stay close to the other women. I told my guys not to mess with you. If you get thirsty, get some water from the jars they filled.”

10 Ruth dropped to her knees, face to the ground, and said, “Why are you showing love to me, a foreigner?”

11 Boaz said, “I heard all about you, how you stayed loyal to Naomi after your man died. You left your people and came to a place you do not know, that is big.”

12 “May the Lord repay you. You came to take shelter under God’s wings, He sees you.”

13 She said, “You really made me feel seen, sir. You lifted my spirit, even though I am not one of your servants.”

A Meal with the Boss

14 At lunch, Boaz told her, “Come eat with us.” He gave her bread and dipped it in the sauce. He passed her roasted grain, she ate till she was full, and had leftovers.

15 When she got up to go gather more, Boaz told his workers, “Let her gather even among the bundles, do not stop her.”

16 “Drop some stalks on purpose for her, let her pick them up. Do not be petty about it.”

Ruth Brings It Back

17 Ruth worked the field till evening, then beat out the grain she collected, came out to about a whole ephah (like 30 pounds).

18 She carried it back to town, and Naomi saw how much she had. Ruth also gave her the leftovers from lunch.

19 Naomi said, “Where did you work today, Who showed you this kind of love?” Ruth told her about the man she worked with, “His name’s Boaz.”

20 Naomi lit up. “The Lord bless him! That man has not forgotten kindness to the living or the dead.” Then she said, “Boaz is family, he one of our guardian-redeemers.”

21 Ruth said, “He also told me to stay close to his crew till they are done with the harvest.”

22 Naomi said, “That is good, baby. Stick with his women, no one will mess with you there.”

23 So Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s women, working through barley and wheat harvests. And she kept living with Naomi.