There was a Man of Kin to Naomi,
One that was of her Husband's Family,
His Name was Boaz, and his Wealth was great.
And Ruth the Moabitess did entreat
Her Mother's leave, that she might go, and gather
Some Ears of Corn, where she should most find favour:
Go, Daughter, go, said she. She went, and came
Near to the Reapers, to glean after them:
And, lo, it was her hap to light among
The Reapers, which to Boaz did belong.
Behold, now Boaz came from Bethlehem
Unto his Reapers, and saluted them,
And they blessed him again: and he inquired
Of him that was set over them he hired,
From whence the Damsel was, and was informed
She was the Moabitess that returned
With Naomi: And she did ask, said he,
That here amongst the Reapers she might be,
And that she might have liberty to glean
Among the Sheaves: And she all day hath been,
Even from the morning until now, with us,
That she hath stayed a little in the House.
⟨p. 11⟩Then Boaz said to Ruth, Observe my Daughter,
That thou go not from hence, or follow after
The Reapers of another Field, but where
My Maidens are, see that thou tarry there:
Observe what Field they reap, and go thou there,
Have I not charged the young Men to forbear
To touch thee? And when thou dost thirst, approach
And drink of what the Youths have set abroach.
Then she fell on her Face, and to the Ground
She bowed her self, and said, Why have I found
Such favour in thine Eyes, That thou, to me
Who am a Stranger, should so courteous be?
And Boaz said, It hath been fully shown
To me, what to thy Mother-in Law thou hast done,
Since of thine Husband thou hast been bereft:
How thou thy Father and thy Mother left,
And thine own native Land to come unto
A Land, which thou before didst never know:
The Lord, the God of Israel, the Defence
Whom now thou hast chosen, be thy recompense.
Then said she, let me in thy sight, my Lord,
Find favour, in that thou dost thus afford
Me Comfort, and since thou so kind to me
Dost speak, though I thereof unworthy be
And Boaz said, at Meal-time come thou near,
Eat of the Bread, and dip in the' Vinegar.
And by the Reapers she sate down to Meat,
He gave her parched Corn, and she did eat,
And was sufficed, and left, and rose to glean:
And Boaz gave Command to the young Men,
Let her come in among the Sheaves, said he,
To glean, and let her not reproached be:
⟨p. 12⟩Let fall some handfuls also purposely,
And let her take them without injury.
THere was a Man of Kin to Naomi,
One that was of her Husband's Family,
His Name was Boaz, and his Wealth was great.
And Ruth the Moabitess did intreat
Her Mother's leave, that she might go, and gather
Some Ears of Corn, where she should most find favour:
Go, Daughter, go, said she. She went, and came
Near to the Reapers, to glean after them:
And, lo, it was her hap to light among
The Reapers, which to Boaz did belong.
Behold, now Boaz came from Bethlehem
Unto his Reapers, and saluted them,
And they bless'd him again: and he inquired
Of him that was set over them he hired,
From whence the Damsel was, and was inform'd
She was the Moabitess that return'd
With Naomi: And she did ask, said he,
That here amongst the Reapers she might be,
And that she might have liberty to glean
Among the Sheaves: And she all day hath been,
Even from the morning until now, with us,
That she hath stay'd a little in the House.
⟨p. 11⟩Then Boaz said to Ruth, Observe my Daughter,
That thou go not from hence, or follow after
The Reapers of another Field, but where
My Maidens are, see that thou tarry there:
Observe what Field they reap, and go thou there,
Have I not charg'd the young Men to forbear
To touch thee? And when thou dost thirst, approach
And drink of what the Youths have set abroach.
Then she fell on her Face, and to the Ground
She bow'd her self, and said, Why have I found
Such favour in thine Eyes, That thou, to me
Who am a Stranger, should so courteous be?
And Boaz said, It hath been fully shown
To me, what to thy Mother-in Law thou'st done,
Since of thine Husband thou hast been bereft:
How thou thy Father and thy Mother left,
And thine own native Land to come unto
A Land, which thou before didst never know:
The Lord, the God of Israel, the Defence
Whom now thou'st chosen, be thy recompence.
Then said she, let me in thy sight, my Lord,
Find favour, in that thou dost thus afford
Me Comfort, and since thou so kind to me
Dost speak, though I thereof unworthy be
And Boaz said, at Meal-time come thou near,
Eat of the Bread, and dip i'th' Vinegar.
And by the Reapers she sate down to Meat,
He gave her parched Corn, and she did eat,
And was suffic'd, and left, and rose to glean:
And Boaz gave Command to the young Men,
Let her come in among the Sheaves, said he,
To glean, and let her not reproached be:
⟨p. 12⟩Let fall some handfuls also purposely,
And let her take them without injury.
