THE BOOK OF RUTH

 

Ruth Chapter 1

1 ¶ In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to stay in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.

2 And the man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion, and they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem-Judah. And they went to the country of Moab, and remained there.

3 But Naomi’s husband Elimelech died; and she was left, with her two sons.

4 And they took women of Moab as wives; the name of one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth: and they lived there for about ten years.

5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; and the woman was without her two sons or her husband.

6 ¶ Then she, and her daughters in law, prepared to leave the country of Moab: for in the country of Moab she had heard how the LORD had visited his people and given them food.

7 So she left the place where she was, her two daughters in law being with her; and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters in law, Each of you go back to your mother’s home: may the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 May the LORD enable each of you to find peace, in the home of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voices, and wept.

10 And they said to her, Surely we will return with you to your people.

11 But Naomi replied, Turn back, my daughters: why do you want to go with me? are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight, and bear sons;

13 Would you wait for them until they were grown? would you refrain from marrying? no, my daughters; for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.

14 And they wept aloud again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, Look, your sister in law has gone back to her people, and to her gods: follow your sister in law.

16 And Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you, or to return from following you: for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your God my God:

17 Where you die, will I die, and there I will be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.

18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

19 ¶ So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival, and they asked, Is this Naomi?

20 And she said to them, Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty: why call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, with Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, who came with her from the country of Moab: and they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.