Now it came to pass in the dayswhen the judgesruled, thatthere was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudahwent 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 wifeNaomi, and the name of his two sonsMahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And theycameinto the country of Moab, and continuedthere.
Then she arosewith her daughters in law, that she mightreturnfrom the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in givingthembread.
And Naomisaidunto her two daughters in law, Go, returneach to her mother’shouse: the LORDdealkindlywith you, as ye havedealtwith the dead, and with me.
Turnagain, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I havehope, if I shouldhave an husbandalso to night, and shouldalsobearsons;
Would ye tarry for themtilltheyweregrown? would ye stay for themfromhavinghusbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for yoursakesthat the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
And Ruthsaid, Intreat me not to leavethee, or to returnfromfollowingafterthee: for whitherthougoest, I will go; and wherethoulodgest, I willlodge: thy peopleshall be my people, and thy God my God:
So they two wentuntiltheycame to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, whentheywerecome to Bethlehem, that all the city was movedaboutthem, and theysaid, Is thisNaomi?
I went out full, and the LORDhathbrought me homeagainempty: why thencall ye me Naomi, seeing the LORDhathtestifiedagainst me, and the Almightyhathafflicted me?
So Naomireturned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, whichreturned out of the country of Moab: and theycame to Bethlehem in the beginning of barleyharvest.