1 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.
2 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.
3 And
Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 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.
5 And
Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two
sons and her husband.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And
they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 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?
12 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;
13 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.
14 And
they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law;
but Ruth clave unto her.
15 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.
16 And
Ruth said, Intreat 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:
17 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.
18 When
she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking
unto her.
19 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?
20 And
she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath
dealt very bitterly with me.
21 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?
22 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.
