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
.
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.
And Elimelech Naomi's
husband
died
; and she was left
, and her two
sons
.
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
.
And Mahlon and Chilion
died
also both
of them; and the woman
was left
of her two
sons
and her husband
.
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
.
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
.
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.
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
.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return
with thee unto thy people
.
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
?
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
;
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.
And they lifted up their voice
, and wept again
: and Orpah
kissed
her mother in law
; but Ruth
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
.
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
:
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.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded
to go
with her, then she left
speaking
unto her.
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
?
And she said unto them, Call
me not Naomi
, call
me Mara
: for the Almighty
hath dealt very
bitterly
with me.
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?
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
.