Ruth 1

Elimelechs Family Goes to Moab

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 Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.3 Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.4 Now they took 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 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Naomi Returns with Ruth

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 that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread.7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mothers house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.10 And they said to her, Surely we will return with you to your people.11 But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?12 Turn back, my daughters, gofor I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept 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; return after your sister-in-law.16 But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, Is this Naomi?20 But 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 do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

RUTH 1

Ruth Is Loyal to Naomi

1-2 Before Israel was ruled by kings, Elimelech from the clan of Ephrath lived in the town of Bethlehem. His wife was named Naomi, and their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. But when their crops failed in Israel, they moved to the country of Moab.t And while they were there,

3 Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with only her two sons.
4 Later, Naomi's sons married Moabite women. One was named Orpah and the other Ruth. About ten years later,

5 Mahlon and Chilion also died. Now Naomi had no husband or sons.
6-7 When Naomi heard that the [Lord] had given his people a good harvest, she and her two daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab and go to Judah. As they were on their way there, 8 Naomi said to them, “Don't you want to go back home to your own mothers? You were kind to my husband and sons, and you've always been kind to me. I pray that the [Lord] will be just as kind to you.

9 May he give each of you another husband and a home of your own.”
Naomi kissed them. They cried

10 and said, “We want to go with you and live among your people.”
11 But she replied, “My daughters, why don't you return home? What good will it do you to go with me? Do you think I could have more sons for you to marry?t 12 You must go back home, because I am too old to marry again. Even if I got married tonight and later had more sons,

13 would you wait for them to become old enough to marry? No, my daughters! Life is harder for me than it is for you, because the [Lord] has turned against me.”t
14 They cried again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on to her.

15 Naomi then said to Ruth, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don't you go with her?”

16 Ruth answered,
“Please don't tell me
to leave you
and return home!
I will go where you go,
I will live where you live;
your people will be my people,
your God will be my God.

17 I will die where you die
and be buried beside you.
May the [Lord] punish me
if we are ever separated,
even by death!”t

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back.

19 They reached Bethlehem, and the whole town was excited to see them. The women who lived there asked, “Can this really be Naomi?”
20 Then she told them, “Don't call me Naomi any longer! Call me Mara, t because God has made my life bitter.

21 I had everything when I left, but the [Lord] has brought me back with nothing. How can you still call me Naomi, when God has turned against me and made my life so hard?”
22 The barley harvest was just beginning when Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, arrived in Bethlehem.