The Story of Ruth

As told by the Holy Bible and "Scriptural Poems; Being Several

his lovely story of a lovely woman, following, like a calm after a storm, the turbulent scenes of Judges, is a delightful and charming picture
of domestic life in a time of anarchy and trouble.

A thousand years earlier, Abraham had been called of God to found a Nation for the purpose of one day bringing a Saviour to mankind. In this
book of Ruth we have the founding of the Family within that Nation in which the Saviour would come. Ruth was the great grandmother of king
David." - from Halley's Bible Handbook
~ Chapter One ~
Red text - from the Holy Bible.
Black text - from "Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested Into English Verse," by John Bunyan.
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in
the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
In ancient times, e'er Israel knew the way
Of kingly power, when judges bore the sway:
A certain man of Bethlehem Juda fled,
By reason of a famine that o'erspread
The land, into the land of Moab, where
He and his wife, and sons, sojourners were.
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of
Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
His name Elimelech, his eldest son
Was called Mahlon, t'other Chilion,
His wife was Naomi, Ephrathites they were:
They went to Moab and continued there:
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Where of her husband Naomi was bereft,
And only she and her two sons were left:
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about
ten years.
Who took them wives of Moab in their youth.
The name of one was Orpah, t'other Ruth:
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
And there they died ere twice five years were gone;
And Naomi was wholly left alone.
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the
Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
Then she arose, and her step-daughters with her,
To leave the land of Moab altogether:
For she had heard the Lord had visited
Her native country, with increase of bread,
Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land
of Judah.
Wherefore the land of Moab she forsook,
And to her native place her course she took,
Her daughters with her:
And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead,
and with me.
... whom she did desire,
That to their mother's house they would retire.
The Lord, said she, be kind to you again,
As you to me, and to the dead have been.
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
God grant you each may be with husbands blest,
And in the enjoyment of them both find rest,
Then she embraced them, and there withal,
Down from their cheeks, the tears began to fall.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
They wept aloud, and said, Most surely we
Unto thy people will return with thee.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
But Naomi replied, Wherefore will ye,
My daughters, thus resolve to go with me?
Are there yet any more sons in my womb,
That may your husbands be in time to come?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and
should also bear sons;
Return again, my daughters, go your way,
For I'm too old to marry: should I say
I've hope? Should I this night conceive a son?
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your
sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
Would either of you stay till he is grown?
Would you so long without an husband live?
Nay, nay, my daughters, for it doth me grieve
Exceedingly, even for your sakes, that I
Do under this so great affliction lie.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
And here they wept again. And Orpah kiss'd
Her mother, But Ruth would be not dismiss'd
But clave unto her:
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
... unto whom she spake
And said, Behold, thy sister is gone back,
With her own gods, and people to abide,
Go thou along with her. But Ruth replied,
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will
lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Intreat me not to leave thee, or return:
For where thou goest, I'll go, where thou sojourn,
I'll sojourn also. And what people's thine,
And who thy God, the same shall both be mine.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Where thou shalt die, there will I die likewise,
And I'll be buried where thy body lies.
The Lord do so to me, and more, if I
Do leave thee, or forsake thee till I die.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
And when she saw the purpose of her heart,
She left off to desire her to depart.
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them,
and they said, Is this Naomi?
So they two travelled along together
To Bethlehem, and when they were come thither,
Behold! the people were surprised, and cried,
What, is this Naomi?
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
... But she replied,
Oh! call me Mara, and not Naomi;
For I have been afflicted bitterly.
I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the
Almighty hath afflicted me?
I went out from you full, but now I come,
As it hath pleased God, quite empty home:
Why then call ye me Naomi? Since I
Have been afflicted so exceedingly.
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem
in the beginning of barley harvest.
So Naomi return'd, and Ruth together,
Who had come from the land of Moab with her:
And unto Bethlem Judah did they come,
Just as the Barley Harvest was begun.

~ Chapter Two ~
 Red text - from the Holy Bible.
 Black text - from "Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested Into English Verse," by John Bunyan.
"Observe Ruth's humility. When Providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. High spirits will rather starve than stoop; not so with
Ruth. Nay, it is her own proposal. She speaks humbly in her expectation of leave to glean. Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and
went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in preferment." - from Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary on the Whole Bible
2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
There was a man of kin to Naomi,
2:1 One that was of her husband's family,
His name was Boaz, and his wealth was great.
And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she
2:2
said unto her, Go, my daughter.
And Ruth, the Moabitess, did intreat
Her Mother's leave, that she might go, and gather
2:2
Some ears of corn, where she should most find favour:
Go, daughter, go, said she.
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who
2:3
was of the kindred of Elimelech.
... She went and came
Near to the reapers, to glean after them:
2:3
And lo, it was her hap to light among
The reapers, which to Boaz did belong.
2:4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
Behold, now Boaz came from Bethlehem
2:4 Unto his reapers, and saluted them,
And they bless'd him again:
2:5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
... and he enquired
2:5 Of him that was set over them he hired,
From whence the damsel was, and was inform'd
And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of
2:6
Moab:
She was the Moabitess that return'd
2:6
With Naomi:
And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the
2:7
morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
... and she did ask, said he,
That here amongst the reapers she might be,
And that she might have liberty to glean
2:7
Among the sheaves. And she all day hath been,
Ev'n from the morning until now, with us,
That she hath stay'd a little in the house.
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my
2:8
maidens:
Then Boaz said to Ruth, observe, my daughter,
That thou go not from hence, or follow after
2:8
The reapers of another field, but where
My maidens are, see that thou tarry there:
Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and
2:9
when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Observe what field they reap, and go thou there,
Have I not charged the young men to forbear
2:9
To touch thee? And when thou dost thirst, approach
And drink of what the youths have set abroach[opened or positioned so that a liquid... can be let out].
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take
2:10
knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
 Then she fell on her face, and to the ground
She bow'd herself, and said, Why have I found
2:10
Such favour in thine eyes; that thou, to me
Who am a stranger, should so courteous be?
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine
2:11 husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not
heretofore.
And Boaz said, it hath been fully shewn
To me, what to thy mother-in-law thou'st done,
Since of thine husband thou hast been bereft:
2:11
How thou thy father and thy mother left,
And thine own native land; to come unto
A land which thou before didst never know:
2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
The Lord, the God of Israel, the defence
2:12
Whom now thou'st chosen, be thy recompence.
Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine
2:13
handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
Then said she, let me in thy sight, my lord,
Find favour in that thou dost thus afford
2:13
Me comfort, and since thou so kind to me
Dost speak, though I thereof unworthy be.
And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers:
2:14
and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
And Boaz said, at meal time come thou near,
Eat of the bread, and dip i' th' vinegar.
2:14 And by the reapers she sat down to meat,
He gave her parched corn, and she did eat,
And was suffic'd; and left,
2:15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
... and rose to glean:
And Boaz gave command to the young men,
2:15
Let her come in among the sheaves, said he, 
To glean, and let her not reproached be.
2:16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Let fall some handfuls also purposely,
2:16
And let her take them without injury.
2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
So she till even glean'd , and then beat out
2:17
Her barley, being an ephah[35 liters] or thereabout.
And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she
2:18
had reserved after she was sufficed.
She took it up, and to the city went,
And to her mother-in-law did it present:
2:18
And what she had reserv'd to her she gave,
When she had took what she design'd to have.
And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of
2:19
thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
Then unto her, her mother-in-law did say,
In what field hast thou been to glean to-day?
And where hast thou been working? Blest be he,
2:19
That thus hath taken cognizance of thee.
She told with whom, and furthermore did say,
The man's name's Boaz, where I wrought to-day.
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And
2:20
Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
And Naomi replied, may he be blest,
Even of the Lord, whose kindness manifest
2:20
Unto the living and the dead hath been:
The man's our kinsman, yea, the next of kin.
2:21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
2:21 And Ruth, the Moabitess, said, he gave
 Me likewise a commandment not to leave,
Or to depart from following his young men,
Until they had brought all his harvest in.
And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any
2:22
other field.
And Naomi said unto Ruth, my daughter,
2:22 'Tis good that thou observe to follow after
His maidens, that they meet thee not elsewhere.
2:23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
So she to Boaz's maidens still kept near,
2:23 Till barley and wheat harvest both, she saw
Were done, and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
 ~ Chapter Three ~
 Red text - from the Holy Bible.
 Black text - from "Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested Into English Verse," by John Bunyan.
"The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. The
course Naomi advised appears strange to us; but it was according to the laws and usages of Israel. Law and custom gave Ruth, who was now
proselyted to the true religion, a legal claim upon Boaz. It was customary for widows to assert this claim." - from Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary on the Whole Bible
3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Then Naomi said, Shall I not, my daughter,
3:1
Seek rest for thee, that thou do well hereafter?
3:2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
And is not Boaz, with whose maids thou wast,
One of the nearest kinsmen that thou hast?
3:2
Behold, this night he in his threshing floor
Is winnowing Barley,
Wash thy self therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto
3:3
the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
... wash thyself therefore,
Anoint thee, put thy clothes on, and get down
3:3
Unto the floor; but make not thyself known,
Till he hath eat and drank,
And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee
3:4
down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
... and shall prepare
To lie him down; then take good notice where
He goes about to take his night's repose,
3:4
And go thou in there, and lift up the clothes
From off his feet, and likewise lay thee down,
And what thou hast to do he will make known.
3:5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
And she made answer, Whatsoever thou
3:5
Hast me commanded, will I gladly do.
3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
And down unto the floor she hasted, and
3:6
Forthwith fulfilled her mother-in-law's command.
And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and
3:7
uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
So now when Boaz had his heart refresh'd,
With meat and drink, he laid him down to rest,
3:7
Near to the heap of corn; she softly came,
Uncover'd's feet, and lay down by the same.
3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
And, lo! at midnight, as he turn'd him round,
3:8 He was afraid, for at his feet he found
A woman lay.
And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a
3:9
near kinsman.
... Who art thou? then said he.
I am thine handmaid Ruth, replied she,
3:9
Over thine handmaid therefore spread thy skirt,
I pray, because thou a near kinsman art.
And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning,
3:10
inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
Blessed be thou, said he, because thou hast
Made manifest more kindness at the last,
3:10
Than at the first, in that thou did'st, my daughter,
No young men, whether poor or rich, go after.
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous
3:11
woman.
And now, my daughter, be not thou afraid,
I will do to thee all that thou hast said:
3:11
For all the city of my people knows,
Thou art a woman truly virtuous;
3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
And now though I am kin and undoubtedly,
3:12
Yet there is one that's nearer kin than I.
Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part:
3:13
but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
 Ruth and Naomi
Ruth
A kind, old woman named Naomi lived far from her homeland. Her husband and sons had died. All she had left
were her two daughters-in-law. One day, Naomi told them, "I must return to my homeland. I'll miss you, but I'm
just an old woman. There's nothing I can do for you."
"Please, Naomi," begged Ruth, one of the daughters-in-law. "Let me go where you go. Your people will be my
people. And your God will be my God." And so Naomi agreed. And the two women traveled for many days until
they finally reached Naomi's hometown, a place called Bethlehem.
"It's time for the barley harvest, Naomi," said Ruth. "If I gather leftover grain, we can make bread to eat." So Ruth
got permission to pick up grain missed by the harvesters.
A man named Boaz owned the field and wondered who she was. "She came back with old Naomi," said his
foreman. "All day long, she has worked hard."
Boaz called Ruth to him and said, "Gather as much grain as you need, and my workers will watch for you."
"You are very kind to a foreigner," she said.
"You helped my relative Naomi," said Boaz. "May God bless and reward you for your kindness."
God did bless Ruth. In time she and Boaz became friends. Boaz shared food, and helped her whenever he could.
One night, Naomi told Ruth to go to the threshing floor whew Boaz was sleeping.She told Ruth to wait for him
there. When Boaz awoke he was surprised to see Ruth. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Naomi has sent
me," said Ruth. "Since you are her nearest relative, I have come to ask you to care for us."
"God bless you," said Boaz. "And don't be afraid, for I will take care of you."
Naomi rejoiced when Ruth and Boaz got married. And Ruth became the great-grandmother of the great King
David!

A Life of Significance
A wonderful change had taken place in Ruth's life even more so than she knew at the time. When she left Moab
with her mother-in-law, Ruth may have thought she was doomed to a life of poverty and obscurity. But because of
the LORD's goodness to her, she became the great-grandmother of David, from whose family Jesus Christ was
eventually born.
No matter how grim things may seem right now, we can find comfort in knowing that God is our Saviour.

Structure
Act 1: Prologue and Problem: Death and Emptiness (1:1-22) Scene 1: Setting and Problem (1:1-6) Scene 2: Emptiness
Compounded (1:7-19a) Scene 3: Emptiness Expressed (1:19b-22)
Act 2: Ruth Meets Boaz, Naomi’s Relative, on the Harvest Field (2:1-23) Scene 1: Ruth Goes to Glean (2:1-3) Scene 2: Boaz is
Exceedingly Generous (2:4-17a) Scene 3: Boaz Is One of their Redeemers (2:17b-23)
Act 3: Naomi Sends Ruth to Boaz on the Threshing Floor (3:1-18) Scene 1: Naomi Reveals Her Plan Scene 2: Ruth Carries out
Naomi’s Plan
Act 4: Resolution and Epilogue: Life and Fullness (4:1-22) Scene 1: Boaz Acquires the Right to Redeem Ruth and Naomi (4:1-12)
Scene 2: Naomi Is Restored to Life and Fullness (4:13-17) Scene 3: Epilogue: A Judean Family Restored (4:18-22)