Ruth 1

1 And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah 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 Bethlehem-judah. 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 dwelt there about ten years.5 And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of 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 Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.7 And 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 of you to her mother’s house: Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.9 Jehovah 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, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet 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 a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear sons;13 would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth 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 god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and 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: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.18 And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off 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 the women 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 Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth 1

A Family Tragedy: Famine and Death

1 During the time of the judgests there was a famine in the land of Judah.t So a man from Bethlehemss in Judah went to live as a resident foreignerts in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.t2 (Now the man’s name was Elimelech,s his wife was Naomi,ts and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion.ts They were of the clan of Ephratht from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there.t3 Sometime latert Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone.4 So her sonst marriedt Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.)ts And they continued to live there about ten years.5 Then Naomi’s two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died.t So the woman was left all alone – bereaved of her two childrent as well as her husband!

6 So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law,t because while she was living in Moabt she had heard that the Lord had shown concernt for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops.t

Ruth Returns with Naomi

7 Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah,t8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother’s home!tMay the Lord shows youtthe same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbandst and to me!t9 May the Lord enable each of you to findt securityt in the home of a new husband!”t Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly.t

10 But they said to her, “No!ts We willt return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me!t I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands!t12 Go back home, my daughters! For I am too old to get married again.sEven if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons,t

13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry!t Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time!t No,t my daughters, you must not return with me.tFor my intense sufferingt is too much for you to bear.t For the Lord is afflicting me!”t
14 Again they wept loudly.t Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye,s but Ruthts clung tightly to her.s15 So Naomit said, “Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god.t Follow your sister-in-law back home!”

16 But Ruth replied,
“Stop urging me to abandon you!t
For wherever you go, I will go.
Wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will become my people,
and your God will become my God.

17 Wherever you die, I will die – and there I will be buried.
May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise!t
Only death will be able to separate me from you!”ts
18 When Naomit realized that Rutht was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her.t

19 So the two of themt journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem.s
When they enteredtBethlehem,s the whole village was excited about their arrival.t The women of the village said,t “Can this be Naomi?”t

Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem

20 But she repliedt to them,t “Don’t call me ‘Naomi’!s Call me ‘Mara’s because the Sovereign Onet has treated me very harshly.t21 I left here full,s but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed.ts Why do you call me ‘Naomi,’ seeing thatt the Lord has opposed me,st and the Sovereign Ones has caused me to suffer?”t

22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab.ts (Now theyt arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)ts