1:1 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
Beth-lehem-judah went to dwell in the country of Moab, he, and
his wife, and his two sons.
1:2 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 Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country
of Moab, and continued there.
1:3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and
her two sons.
1:4 And they took to themselves 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.
1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman
was left by her two sons and her husband.
1:6 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 the LORD had visited his people in
giving them bread.
1:7 Wherefore she went forth 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.
1:8 And Naomi said to 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.
1:9 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.
1:10 And they said to her, surely we will return with thee to
thy people.
1:11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go
with me? shall I bear more sons, that they may be your
husbands?
1:12 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
have a husband also to-night, and should also bear sons;
1:13 Would ye wait for them till they should be 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 has
gone out against me.
1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth cleaved to her.
1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law hath gone back to
her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy
sister-in-law.
1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return
from following 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:
1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried:
the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if aught] but death shall
part thee and me.
1:18 When she saw that she was steadfastly resolved to go with
her, then she left speaking to her.
1:19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came
to pass, when they had come to Beth-lehem, that all the city
was moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi?
1:20 And she said to them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for
the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
1:21 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?
1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her
daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of
Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of
barley-harvest.
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