Ruth 2 - Easy To Read Version

¹ There was a rich man living in Bethlehem. His name was Boaz. Boaz was one of Naomi’s close relatives [7] from Elimelech’s family.

² One day Ruth (the woman from Moab) said to Naomi, “I think I will go to the fields. Maybe I can find someone that would be kind to me and let me gather the grain he leaves in his field.”

³ Naomi said, “Fine, daughter, go ahead.”

⁴ Later, Boaz came to the field from Bethlehem. Boaz greeted his workers. He said, “The Lord be with you!”

⁵ Then Boaz spoke to his servant that was in charge of the workers. He asked, “Whose girl is that?”

⁶ The servant answered, “She is that Moabite woman who came with Naomi from the hill country of Moab.

⁷ She came early this morning and asked me if she could follow the workers and gather the grain that was left on the ground. And she has been working ever since. That is her house over there.” [9]

⁸ Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, child. Stay here in my field to gather grain for yourself. There is no need for you to go to any other person’s field. Continue following behind my women workers.

⁹ Watch to see which fields they go to, and follow them. I have warned the young men not to bother you. When you are thirsty, go and drink from the same water jug my men drink from.”

¹⁰ Then Ruth bowed very low to the ground. She said to Boaz, “I am surprised you even noticed me! I am a stranger, {but you have been very kind to me}.”

¹¹ Boaz answered her, “I know about all the help you have given to Naomi, your mother-in-law. I know you helped her even after your husband died. And I know that you left your father and mother and your own country and came here to this country. You did not know any people from this country, but you came here with Naomi.

¹² The Lord will reward you for all the good things you have done. You will be paid in full by the Lord, the God of Israel. You have come to him for safety, [10] {and he will protect you}.”

¹³ Then Ruth said, “You are very kind to me, sir. I am only a servant. I am not even equal to one of your servants. But you have said kind words to me and comforted me.”

¹⁴ At lunch time, Boaz told Ruth, “Come here! Eat some of our bread. Here, dip your bread in our vinegar.”

¹⁵ Then Ruth got up and went back to work.

¹⁶ And make her work easier by dropping some full heads of grain for her. Let her gather that grain. Don’t tell her to stop.”

¹⁷ Ruth worked in the fields until evening. Then she separated the grain from the chaff. [11] There was about 1/2 bushel [12] of barley.

¹⁸ Ruth carried the grain into town to show her mother-in-law what she had gathered. She also gave her the food that was left from lunch.

¹⁹ Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you gather all this grain? Where did you work? Bless the man who noticed you.”

²⁰ Then Naomi told her daughter-in-law, “Boaz is one of our relatives. Boaz is one of our protectors.” [13]

²¹ Then Ruth said, “Boaz also told me to come back and continue working. Boaz said that I should work closely with his servants until the harvest is finished.”

²² Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good for you to continue working with his women servants. If you work in another field, some man might hurt you.”

²³ So Ruth continued working closely with the women servants of Boaz. She gathered grain until the barley harvest was finished. She also worked there through the end of the wheat harvest. Ruth continued living with Naomi, her mother-in-law.