The Abridged Book of Ruth

1:1-2. Back when the Judges were in charge, a woman named Naomi, her husband, and their two sons left their hometown, Bethlehem, to escape a famine and temporarily live in the country of Moab.

1:3. The husband died, leaving Naomi with her sons.

1:4. The sons married two women named Orpah and Ruth, and lived there for about ten years.

1:5. Then the sons died, and Naomi was left without her sons and husband, and with just her daughter-in-laws.

1:6. Naomi heard that the famine was over in her home country, so she planned to go back.

1:7. They began their journey.

1:8-9. Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers' homes, and prayed and blessed them. They all cried together.

1:10-13. They both wanted to go with Naomi, but she insisted they shouldn't- she couldn't provide them with new husbands.

1:14-15. They cried again, and Orpah said goodbye, but Ruth stayed, hugging Naomi, Naomi encouraging her to leave.

1:16-17. But Ruth refused to leave, swearing a vow to God to stay with her.

1:18. Seeing Ruth's determination, Naomi stopped trying to convince her to go back.

1:19. Eventually, they arrived in Bethlehem, causing an excitement in the town.

1:20-21. Naomi told the townspeople to call her "Bitter", because God had made her life hard- she had left full but came back empty.

1:22. They got back to town just as the barley harvest was starting.

2:1. Naomi had a relative named Boaz from her late husband's family, who was well-respected.

2:2. Ruth told Naomi she was going to pick leftover grain in the nearby fields, as was common for the time.

2:3. Ruth ended up in a field that belonged to someone named Boaz- who happened to be part of Naomi's late husband's family.

2:4. Just then, Boaz came back home, and said hello to his workers. They greeted him warmly.

2:5. Boaz noticed Ruth working and asked who she was.

2:6-7. The boss told him she came with Naomi, and that she had asked to collect the extra grain left behind by the workers. He said she had been there all day, with only a short break.

2:8-9. Boaz told Ruth she was allowed to stay- to follow the women and the men would not bother her. He welcomed her to drink from the water they had.

2:10. Ruth thanked Boaz, surprised he was so kind to her, a foreigner.

2:11-12. Boaz told her he knew about all she'd done for Naomi since her husband died, and God would want her to be rewarded for her kindness.

2:13. Ruth thanked him for being so nice even though she wasn't one of his workers.

2:14. At lunch, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him, and she had plenty of food, with some left over.

2:15. After lunch, Boaz told his workers to be nice to Ruth and not to make her feel embarrassed while gathering grain.

2:16. He even told them to leave extra grain for her to collect.

2:17. Ruth worked all day and then processed the grain she got, which was a good amount.

2:18. She took it back to Naomi, who was surprised at how much there was.
Ruth gave her the leftover lunch.

2:19. Naomi asked where Ruth had worked, and when she heard it was with Boaz, she felt blessed.

2:20. Naomi praised Boaz and mentioned he was someone who could marry Ruth to maintain the family line.

2:21. Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had also invited her to stay with his workers until the harvest was done.

2:22. Naomi felt it was safer and better for Ruth to stick with Boaz's field with the women.

2:23. Ruth stayed with the women through the harvests and kept living with Naomi.

3:1. Naomi told Ruth, "I want to find you a good place to live where you'll have everything you need.

3:2. Boaz is going to be sorting barley tonight.

3:3. Get cleaned up, put on some perfume, and dress your best. Then go see him, but stay hidden until he's done eating and drinking.

3:4. Watch where he goes to sleep, and lay down at his feet. He'll tell you what to do next.

3:5. Ruth replied, "I'll do what you've said."

3:6. She went to Boaz and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed.

3:7. After Boaz had eaten and drunk and was in a good mood, he laid down. Ruth snuck in, uncovered his feet, and laid down, too.

3:8. In the night, Boaz woke up surprised to find a woman at his feet.

3:9. "Who are you?" he asked.
She said, "I'm your servant, Ruth. Please take care of me."

3:10. He said, "You've been very kind, even more than before. You haven't chased after young men, whether rich or poor.

3:11. Don't be scared. I'll can do all you've asked, everyone knows you're a respectable woman.

3:12. But, first, while it's true I could help you, there's someone else who is more closely related.

3:13. Stay the rest of the night. In the morning, if he wants to help you, fine, let him. If not, I swear by God I'll help you. Stay here until morning."

3:14. She stayed by his feet until morning, but they got up early because they didn't want anyone to see a woman staying the night.

3:15. He then told her to hold out her scarf, and he filled it with wheat for her. After that, he went back to the city.

3:16. When Ruth got home, Naomi asked how things went, and Ruth told her all that Boaz had done.

3:17. She added, "He gave me all this wheat because he didn't want me to come back to you empty-handed."

3:18. Naomi told her, "Just wait, my daughter, to see how things turn out. He won't rest until he has resolved the issue today."

4:1. Boaz went to the town's main area and sat down. When the man he had in mind came by, Boaz called him to sit nearby, and he did.

4:2. Boaz gathered ten respected town leaders and asked them to sit down, which they did.

4:3. He then spoke to the relative saying, 'Naomi, back from Moab, is selling our relative Elimelech’s land.

4:4. I wanted to tell you, so you have the chance to buy it with these witnesses here. If you want to buy it, go ahead; if not, let me know because you’re first in line, and if not you, then I'm next.

4:5. When you buy the land from Naomi, you also take responsibility for Ruth, the widow, to keep the deceased's family name alive.'

4:6-8. The relative replied, "I can’t buy it, it's too big of a risk. Go ahead." He held out his hand to solidify the deal.

4:9-10. Boaz spoke the deal aloud.

4:11-12. The town leaders and bystanders responded, 'We're witnesses to the deal. May Ruth be a great legendary mother, and bless you with a son."

4:13. Boaz married Ruth, and they had a son.

4:14-15. The women celebrated with Naomi, praising God for providing her with a family.

4:16. Naomi took care of the baby as if he were her own.

4:17-22. They named him Obed. He would become the grandfather of King David.