First ReadingRuth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17
From the Book of Ruth
1Naomi had a relative of her husband’s,a mighty man of wealth,of the family of Elimelech,and his name was Boaz.2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi,“Let me now go to the field,and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.”
She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”3She went, and cameand gleaned in the field after the reapers;and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz,who was of the family of Elimelech.
verses 4–7 are not read8Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter.Don’t go to glean in another field,and don’t go from here,but stay here close to my maidens.9Let your eyes be on the field that they reap,and go after them.Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you?When you are thirsty,go to the vessels,and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”
10Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground,and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight,that you should take knowledge of me,since I am a foreigner?”
11Boaz answered her,“I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband,and how you have left your father,your mother, and the land of your birth,and have come to a people that you didn’t know before.
some verses are not read13So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife;and he went in to her,and the Lord enabled her to conceive,and she bore a son.14The women said to Naomi,“Blessed be the Lord,who has not left you today without a near kinsman.Let his name be famous in Israel.15He shall be to you a restorer of lifeand sustain you in your old age;for your daughter-in-law,who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons,has given birth to him.”16Naomi took the child,laid him in her bosom,and became nurse to him.17The women, her neighbors,gave him a name, saying,“A son is born to Naomi”.They named him Obed.He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.