A reading from the book of Ruth.

Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of a Limelech, whose name was

Boaz. And Ruth the Moabites said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of

grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her, go, my daughter.

So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to

the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of a Limelech. And behold, Boaz came from

Bethlehem, and he said to the reapers,

The Lord be with you.

And they answered, The Lord bless you.

Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers,

Whose young woman is this?

And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered.

She is the young Moabite woman who came back

with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, please let me glean and gather among the sheaves

after the reapers. So she came and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short

rest. Then Boaz said to Ruth, Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field, or leave this one,

but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them.

Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.

Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him,

Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner?

But Boaz answered her, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been

fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land, and came to a people

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