Ruth Works in the Field of Boaz
1 Naomi had a relative named Boaz, a rich and influential man who belonged to the family of her husband Elimelech. 2 One day Ruth said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields to gather the grain that the harvest workers leave. I am sure to find someone who will let me work with him.”
Naomi answered, “Go ahead, daughter.”
3 So Ruth went out to the fields and walked behind the workers, picking up the heads of grain which they left. It so happened that she was in a field that belonged to Boaz.
4 Some time later Boaz himself arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the workers. “The Lord be with you!” he said.
“The Lord bless you!” they answered.
5 Boaz asked the man in charge, “Who is that young woman?”
6 The man answered, “She is the foreigner who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She asked me to let her follow the workers and gather grain. She has been working since early morning and has just now stopped to rest for a while under the shelter.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Let me give you some advice. Don't gather grain anywhere except in this field. Work with the women here; 9 watch them to see where they are reaping and stay with them. I have ordered my men not to molest you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and drink from the water jars that they have filled.”
10 Ruth bowed down with her face touching the ground, and said to Boaz, “Why should you be so concerned about me? Why should you be so kind to a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered, “I have heard about everything that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. I know how you left your father and mother and your own country and how you came to live among a people you had never known before. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!”
13 Ruth answered, “You are very kind to me, sir. You have made me feel better by speaking gently to me, even though I am not the equal of one of your servants.”
14 At mealtime Boaz said to Ruth, “Come and have a piece of bread, and dip it in the sauce.” So she sat with the workers, and Boaz passed some roasted grain to her. She ate until she was satisfied, and she still had some food left over. 15-16 After she had left to go and gather grain, Boaz ordered the workers, “Let her gather grain even where the bundles are lying, and don't say anything to stop her. Besides that, pull out some heads of grain from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up.”
17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening, and when she had beaten it out, she found she had nearly twenty-five pounds. 18 She took the grain back into town and showed her mother-in-law how much she had gathered. She also gave her the food left over from the meal. 19 Naomi asked her, “Where did you gather all this grain today? Whose field have you been working in? May God bless the man who took an interest in you!”
So Ruth told Naomi that she had been working in a field belonging to a man named Boaz.
20 “May the Lord bless Boaz!” Naomi exclaimed. “The Lord always keeps his promises to the living and the dead.” And she went on, “That man is a close relative of ours, one of those responsible for taking care of us.”
21 Then Ruth said, “Best of all, he told me to keep gathering grain with his workers until they finish the harvest.”
22 Naomi said to Ruth, “Yes, daughter, it will be better for you to work with the women in Boaz' field. You might be molested if you went to someone else's field.” 23 So Ruth worked with them and gathered grain until all the barley and wheat had been harvested. And she continued to live with her mother-in-law.
Rute sastop Boazu
1 Naomi bija radinieks, ļoti ietekmīgs vīrs no viņas vīra Elīmeleha dzimtas, vārdā Boazs. 2 Reiz moābiete Rute sacīja Naomi: “Ja nu es ietu uz tīrumu uzlasīt vārpas aiz tā, kura acīs es gūšu vēlību?” Un viņa tai teica: “Ej, mana meita!” 3 Tā viņa gāja un nonāca tīrumā, un lasīja aiz pļāvējiem. Sagadījās, ka tas bija Boaza tīruma gabals – tā, kurš no Elīmeleha dzimtas. 4 Un, redzi, Boazs nāca no Betlēmes un sacīja pļāvējiem: “Kungs ar jums!” Un tie viņam sacīja: “Kungs tevi svētī!” 5 Tad Boazs jautāja savam puisim, kas iecelts pār pļāvējiem: “Kas ir šī meitene?” 6 Un puisis, kas iecelts pār pļāvējiem, atbildēja: “Tā ir moābiešu meitene, kas kopā ar Naomi atgriezusies no Moāba laukiem. 7 Viņa lūdza: ļauj man savākt un uzlasīt vārpas starp statiem aiz pļāvējiem. Viņa atnākusi un palikusi – no agra rīta līdz šim brīdim viņa ir šeit, tā nav bijusi mājās.” 8 Tad Boazs sacīja Rutei: “Vai dzirdi, meit! Neej lasīt vārpas cita tīrumā, nedz arī dodies prom no šī, bet turies kopā ar manas saimes meitām. 9 Vērs savas acis uz šo tīrumu, kuru tie pļauj, un staigā tām pakaļ – nudien, es pavēlēju puišiem, lai tevi neaizskar. Kad esi izslāpusi, ej pie traukiem un dzer, ko puiši smēluši.” 10 Tad viņa krita uz sava vaiga, liecās līdz zemei un sacīja viņam: “Kā gan es esmu guvusi tavu vēlību, ka tu mani ievēro – es taču esmu svešiniece!” 11 Bet Boazs viņai atbildēja: “Man stāstīt ir stāstījuši par visu, ko tu esi darījusi savai vīramātei pēc vīra nāves – ka tu atstāji savu tēvu un māti un dzimto zemi un devies pie tautas, kuru tu vēl vakar nepazini. 12 Kungs atalgos tavu darbu, pilna būs tava alga no Kunga, kas Israēla Dievs, pie kura tu esi nākusi tverties zem viņa spārniem.” 13 Viņa sacīja: “Mans kungs, nu es gūstu tavu vēlību, jo tu mani mierināji un savas kalpones sirdi tu uzrunāji, bet es taču neesmu pat tava kalpone!” 14 Ap pusdienu Boazs viņai sacīja: “Nāc šurp, ēd no šīs maizes un mērc savu kumosu skābumā.” Viņa apsēdās līdzās pļāvējiem, un viņš sniedza tai grauzdumus. Viņa ēda un bija paēdusi, un vēl atlicināja. 15 Kad viņa cēlās lasīt, Boazs pavēlēja saviem puišiem: “Lai viņa lasa arī starp statiem, un nepazemojiet viņu! 16 Pat vēl izvelciet priekš viņas no kūļiem un atstājiet, lai viņa salasa, un nerājiet viņu!” 17 Tā viņa lasīja tīrumā līdz vakaram. Tad viņa izkūla, ko bija salasījusi, – tur bija apmēram ēfa miežu. 18 To viņa ņēma un pārnāca pilsētā. Viņas vīramāte redzēja, ko viņa bija salasījusi, un viņa ņēma un deva tai, ko ēdot bija atlicinājusi. 19 Vīramāte vaicāja: “Kur tu šodien lasīji un kur tu strādāji? Svētīts lai tas, kurš tevi ievērojis!” Un viņa stāstīja vīramātei, kurš ir tas, pie kā viņa strādājusi. Viņa teica: “Tā vīra vārds, pie kura es šodien strādāju, ir Boazs.” 20 Tad Naomi teica savai vedeklai: “Lai viņš ir Kunga svētīts, kas nav atmetis mīlestību uz dzīvajiem un mirušajiem!” Un Naomi tai sacīja: “Tas vīrs ir mūsu radinieks. Viņš ir no mūsu piederīgajiem .” 21 Bet moābiete Rute sacīja: “Turklāt viņš man teica: turies kopā ar maniem ļaudīm, līdz tie būs beiguši visu pļauju.” 22 Un Naomi sacīja savai vedeklai Rutei: “Tas labi, mana meita, ka tu iesi kopā ar viņa saimes meitām, ka tev cita tīrumā nenodara pāri.” 23 Tā viņa lasīdama turējās kopā ar Boaza saimes meitām, līdz tika pabeigta miežu pļauja un kviešu pļauja, un viņa dzīvoja pie savas vīramātes.
