- 1
- Nowe it came to passe in the dayes when ye Iudges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a certaine man of Bethlehem Iudah, went to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sonnes.
- 2
- And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the name of his two sonnes, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Iudah: and they came into the countrey of Moab, and continued there.
- 3
- And Elimelech Naomies husband died, and shee was left, and her two sonnes;
- 4
- And they tooke them wiues 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 yeeres.
- 5
- And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them, and the woman was left of her two sonnes, and her husband.
- 6
- Then shee arose with her daughters in law, that shee might returne from the countrey of Moab: for shee had heard in the countrey of Moab, how that the Lord had visited his people, in giuing them bread.
- 7
- Wherefore she went foorth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her: and they went on the way to returne vnto the land of Iudah.
- 8
- Aud Naomi said vnto her two daughters in law, Goe, returne each to her mothers house: the Lord deale kindly with you, as ye haue dealt with the dead, and with me.
- 9
- The Lord graunt you, that you may finde rest each of you in the house of her husband.
Then she kissed them, and they lift vp their voyce and wept.
- 10
- And they said vnto her, Surely wee will returne with thee, vnto thy people.
- 11
- And Naomi said, Turne againe, my daughters: why will you goe with mee?
Are there yet any moe sonnes in my wombe, that they may be your husbands?
- 12
- Turne againe, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to haue an husband: if I should say, I haue hope, if I should haue a husband also to night, and should also beare sonnes:
- 13
- Would ye tary for them till they were growen?
would ye stay for them from hauing husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieueth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
- 14
- And they lift vp their voyce, and wept againe: and Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth claue vnto her.
- 15
- And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people, and vnto her gods: returne thou after thy sister in law.
- 16
- And Ruth said, Intreate mee not to leaue thee, or to returne from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will goe;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
- 17
- Where thou diest, wil I die, and there will I bee buried: the Lord doe so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
- 18
- When shee sawe that shee was stedfastly minded to goe with her, then shee left speaking vnto her.
- 19
- So they two went vntill they came to Bethlehem: And it came to passe when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the citie was mooued about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
- 20
- And she said vnto them, Call me not Naomi;
call mee Mara: for the Almightie hath dealt very bitterly with me.
- 21
- I went out full, and the Lord hath bought me home againe emptie: Why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
- 22
- So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitesse her daughter in law with her, which returned out of the countrey of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem, in the beginning of barley haruest.
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