And it came to pass, in the days when the Judges administered justice, that there was a famine in the land, - and so a certain man went his way, out of Bethlehem-judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Then she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned out of the country of Moab, - for she had heard, in the country of Moab, how that Yahweh had visited his people, in giving unto them, bread.

Yahweh grant you, that ye may find a place of rest, each one in the house of her husband, - And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Then said Naomi - Go back, my daughters! wherefore should ye journey with me? Have I, yet, sons in my womb, that they should become your, husbands?

would ye, therefore, tarry until they were grown? would ye, therefore, shut yourselves up from having husbands? Nay! my daughters, for it is far more bitter for me than for you, that forth hath gone against me, the hand of Yahweh.

And, when she saw that, bravely determined, was she to go with her, she ceased entreating her.

So, they two, went their way, until they entered Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they entered Bethlehem, that all the city was moved concerning them, and the women said - Is this Naomi?

Then said Boaz to his young man, that was set over the reapers, - Whose is this maiden?

And the young man that was set over the reapers answered and said, - The Moabitish maiden, is she who came back with Naomi, out of the country of Moab;

and she said - Let me glean, I pray thee, and gather among the sheaves, after the reapers; so she came in, and hath continued from that time, all the morning until just now, and hath not rested in the house, for a little.

thine eyes, be on the field which they shall reap, and go thou after them, Have I not commanded the young men, that they touch thee not? And, when thou art athirst, then go unto the vessels, and drink of what the young men shall draw.

Then she fell upon her face, and bowed herself to the ground, - and said unto him - Wherefore have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take notice of me, seeing that, I, am, a stranger?

And Boaz answered, and said to her, It hath been, told, me - all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law, since the death of thy husband, - and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and come unto a people whom thou knewest not, aforetime.

And she said - Let me find favour in thine eyes, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken unto the heart of thy handmaid, - though, I, be not as, one of thine own handmaidens.

yea moreover, draw out, for her, from the bundles, - and leave behind that she may glean it, and rebuke her not.

So she gleaned in the field, until the evening, - and beat out that which she had gleaned, and there was about an ephah of barley.

And she took it up, and came into the city, and, when her mother-in-law had seen what she had gleaned, she brought forth and gave her what had been left remaining, after that she was satisfied.

And her mother-in-law said to her - In what place hast thou gleaned, today? and where hast thou wrought? May he that took notice of thee, be blessed! So she told her mother-in-law, with whom she had wrought, and said - The name of the man with whom I wrought today, is Boaz.

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, - Good, is it, my daughter, that thou go forth with his maidens, and that they meet thee not, in any other field.

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he doth lie, and shalt go in and turn aside the covering of his feet, and lay thee down, - and, he, will tell thee what thou shalt do.

And she said unto her, - All that thou sayest, will I do.

So she went down to the threshing-floor, - and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.

And it came to pass, in the middle of the night, that the man started up, and turned, - and lo! a woman, lying at his feet.

And he said - Blessed, be thou of Yahweh, my daughter, for thou hast made thy last lovingkindness better than the first, - in not following after young men, whether poor, or rich.

Now, therefore, my daughter, do not fear, whatsoever thou shalt say, I will do for thee, - for all the gate of my people doth know, that, a virtuous woman, thou art.

And, now, although it is true that, a kinsman, am I, yet is there a kinsman nearer than I.

So she lay at his feet, until the morning, and rose up before one could know his neighbour. And he said - Do not let it be known that a woman came into the threshing-floor.

And he said - Bring the cloak that is upon thee, and hold it. So she held it, - and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her, and he went into the city.

And, when she came unto her mother-in- law, she said - Who art, thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done for her.

And she said - Abide, my daughter, until that thou get to know, how the matter will fall out, - for the man will not rest, except he have finished the thing to-day.

Then said he to the kinsman, The parcel of land that was our brother Elimelech's, is to be disposed of by Naomi, who hath returned out of the country of Moab;

and, I, thought, I would unveil thine ear, saying - Take it over in presence of such as are here seated, and in presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt act as kinsman, act as kinsman, but, if thou wilt not so act, only tell me - that I may know, for there is none who can set thee aside as kinsman, but, I, am after thee. And he said, I, will act as kinsman.

Then said Boaz to the elders, and all the people - Witnesses, are ye to-day, that I have taken over all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's, and Mahlon's, - from the hand of Naomi:

Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, have I taken over, to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off - from among his brethren, and from the gate of his dwelling- place, - Witnesses, are ye to-day!

So shall he become a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age, - for, thy daughter-in-law who loveth thee, hath borne him, even, she, who is better to thee than seven sons.