Chapter 1

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges⁶ ruled,² that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah ³⁰⁶³ went⁴ to sojourn² 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. ³⁰⁶³ And they came⁴ into the country of Moab, and continued there.

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died;⁴ and she was left,¹¹ and her two sons.

And they took⁴ them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one [was] Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled⁴ there about ten years.

And Mahlon and Chilion died⁴ also both of them; and the woman was left¹¹ of her two sons and her husband.

Then she arose⁴ with her daughters in law, that she might return⁴ from the country of Moab: for she had heard¹ in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited¹ his people in giving² them bread.

Wherefore she went forth⁴ out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went⁴ on the way to return² unto the land of Judah.

And Naomi said⁴ unto her two daughters in law, Go,³ return³ each to her mother's house: the LORD deal⁴ kindly with you, as ye have dealt¹ with the dead,⁵ and with me.

The LORD grant⁴ you that ye may find³ rest, each [of you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed⁴ them; and they lifted up⁴ their voice, and wept.⁴

And they said⁴ unto her, Surely we will return⁴ with thee unto thy people.

And Naomi said,⁴ Turn again,³ my daughters: why will ye go⁴ with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Turn again,³ my daughters, go³ [your way]; for I am too old¹ to have an husband. If I should say,¹ I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear¹ sons;

Would ye tarry¹⁷ for them till they were grown?⁴ would ye stay¹¹ for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth¹ me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out¹ against me.

And they lifted up⁴ their voice, and wept⁴ again: and Orpah kissed⁴ her mother in law; but Ruth clave¹ unto her.

And she said,⁴ Behold, thy sister in law is gone back¹ unto her people, and unto her gods: return³ thou after thy sister in law.

And Ruth said,⁴ Intreat⁴ me not to leave² thee, [or] to return² from following after thee: for whither thou goest,⁴ I will go;⁴ and where thou lodgest,⁴ I will lodge:⁴ thy people [shall be] my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest,⁴ will I die,⁴ and there will I be buried:¹¹ the LORD do⁴ so to me, and more⁵⁵ also, [if ought] but death part⁵⁵ thee and me.

When she saw⁴ that she was stedfastly minded¹⁰² to go² with her, then she left⁴ speaking¹⁵ unto her.

So they two went⁴ until they came² to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come² to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved¹¹ about them, and they said,⁴ [Is] this Naomi?

And she said⁴ unto them, Call⁴ me not Naomi, call³ me Mara: ⁴⁷⁵¹ for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly⁵² with me.

I went out¹ full, and the LORD hath brought me home again⁵² empty: why [then] call⁴ ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified¹ against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted⁵² me?

So Naomi returned,⁴ and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned¹ out of the country of Moab: and they came¹ to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.