Ruth

Ruth 1 ©

1 Elimelech driven by famine into Moab dieth there, as do also his sons Mahlon and Chilion, who had married Moabitish wives. 6 Naomi the wife of Elimelech prepareth to return, but dissuadeth her daughters in law from going with her; of whom Orpah leaveth her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanieth her. 19 They two come to Bethlehem, where the inhabitants flock around with enquiries concerning them.

1

NOW it came to pass ain the days when the judges 1ruled, that there bwas a famine in the land. And a certain man of cBeth-lehem-judah dwent to *sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

a Ju. 3; 2.16.
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, eEphrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and 2continued there.

3

And fElimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4

And they gtook them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was hOrpah, and the name of the other iRuth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

h v.14.
5

And jMahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

6

¶Then kshe 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 lvisited his mpeople in giving them bread.

7

Wherefore she nwent 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, oreturn each to her mother's house: pthe LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with qthe dead, and with me.

9

The LORD grant you that ye rmay find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then sshe kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10

And they said unto her, Surely we will treturn 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, uthat they may be your husbands?

12

Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am vtoo old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, 3if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13

Would ye 4tarry for them till they were grown? would ye *stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for 5it grieveth me much for your sakes wthat the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

14

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah xkissed her mother in law; but Ruth y*clave unto her.

15

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: zreturn thou after thy sister in law.

16

And Ruth asaid, 6Intreat 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: bthy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: cthe LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18

When she saw that she 7was stedfastly minded to go with her, dthen she left speaking unto her.

19

¶So they two went until they came to eBeth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that fall the city was moved about them, and they said, gIs this Naomi?

20

And she said unto them, Call me not 8Naomi, call me 9Mara: for the Almighty hath hdealt very bitterly with me.

21

I went out full, iand the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath jtestified 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 kthey came to Beth-lehem lin the beginning of barley harvest.