RUTH AND BOAZ.

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man ofwealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to thefield, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shallfind grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went,and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hapwas to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who wasof the kindred of Elimelech.

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto thereapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lordbless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over thereapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set overthe reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel thatcame back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: and she said, Ipray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among thesheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morninguntil now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Gonot to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abidehere fast by my maidens: let thine eyes be on the field that theydo reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young menthat they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, gounto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men havedrawn.

Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, andsaid unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thoushouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewedme, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since thedeath of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thymother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a peoplewhich thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work,and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, underwhose wings thou art come to trust.

Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord; forthat thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spokenfriendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one ofthine handmaidens.

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eatof the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she satbeside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she dideat, and was sufficed, and left. And when she was risen up toglean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean evenamong the sheaves, and reproach her not: and let fall also someof the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she mayglean them and rebuke her not.

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that shehad gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.—Ruth ii.1-17,