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 sojourn 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 Malon and Kilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah.
And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died, and she was left, and her two sons.
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 dwelled there about ten years.
And Malon and Kilion died also both of them, and the woman was left of her two
sons and her husband.
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,
and giving them bread.
Wherefore 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.
And Naomi said unto 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.
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.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters.
Why will ye go with me?
Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way.
For I am too old to have an husband.
If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to-night,
and should also bear sons, would ye tarry for them till they were 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
is gone out against me.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again.
And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her
gods.
Return thou after thy sister-in-law.
And Ruth said, Entreat 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.
Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left,
speaking unto her.
So they too 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 they said, Is this Naomi?
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt
very bitterly with me.
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?
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her,
which returned out of the country of Moab.
And they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.