Ruth Stays True

Long ago there was no food in the land of Israel, so Naomi and her family moved to the country of Moab. There her husband died. Her two sons married women from Moab, named Orpah and Ruth. Then, sadly, both sons died too. Now Naomi was left all alone with Orpah and Ruth.

Naomi heard that God had given her people bread again, so she set out for home, for Bethlehem. She told Orpah and Ruth, "Go back to your mothers' houses." They cried. Orpah kissed her and went back. But Ruth held on tight.

Ruth said, "Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." So the two of them came to Bethlehem together, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

Ruth went out to a field to pick up leftover grain, so she and Naomi could eat. The field belonged to a good man named Boaz. He was kind to Ruth. "Stay in my field," he said. "Drink my water, and eat bread with my workers." He had heard how Ruth cared for Naomi. He even told his workers to drop extra grain on purpose, just for her.

Boaz was part of Naomi's family, and in Israel a close family member could take care of widows like Naomi and Ruth. Ruth asked Boaz to be that helper, and Boaz gladly said yes. He married Ruth.

God gave Ruth and Boaz a baby boy named Obed. Naomi held him in her arms, and her neighbors said, "Blessed be the LORD!" When Obed grew up, he became the grandfather of King David.