- 1
- ¶ NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.
And a certain man from Beth-lehem of Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
- 2
- And the name of the man was Elimeleck, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons Malion and Calion, Ephrathites from Beth-lehem of Judah.
And they came to the land of Moab to sojourn there.
- 3
- And Elimeleck the husband of Naomi died;
and she was left with her two sons.
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- And they took them wives of the Moabite women;
the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth;
and they dwelt there about ten years.
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- And Malion and Calion, her two sons, died;
and the woman was bereft of her husband and her two sons.
- 6
- ¶ Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab;
for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited his people in giving them food.
- 7
- So she went forth out of the place where they sojourned, along with her two daughters-in-law, to return and go to the land of Judah.
- 8
- And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Return, go back to your own country and to the house of your kinsmen;
may the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with me and with both of my sons who now are dead.
- 9
- The LORD grant you favor so that you may find rest in the house of your parents.
Then she kissed them: and they lifted up their voices and wept.
- 10
- And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your land and to your people.
- 11
- But Naomi said to them, Turn back, my daughters;
why will you go with me?
Will I bear sons again that they may be your husbands?
- 12
- Turn back, my daughters, go your way;
for I am too old to have a husband.
If I should say, I have hope, and even if I should have a husband, and should also bear sons;
- 13
- Would you wait for them till they were grown?
Would you stay for them from having husbands?
No, my daughters;
for I am greatly grieved for your sakes, and it grieves me more than it does you, because the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me.
- 14
- And they lifted up their voices again and wept;
and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and turned back and went away;
but Ruth clung to her.
- 15
- And her mother-in-law said to her, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her kinsmen;
return also after your sister-in-law.
- 16
- And Ruth said to her, Far be it from me to return from following after you, and to leave you;
for where you go, I will go;
and where you dwell, I will dwell;
your people shall be my people, and your God my God:
- 17
- Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried;
may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.
- 18
- When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, then she ceased from urging her to go back.
- 19
- ¶ So they went together until they came to Beth-lehem of Judah.
And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, the whole city rejoiced over them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
- 20
- And she said to them, Do not call me Naomi, but call me Bitter of Soul;
for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
- 21
- For I went forth from here full, and the LORD has brought me back empty;
why then call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has humbled me, and has sorely afflicted me?
- 22
- So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, for she was wholeheartedly willing to return with her, and they came from the land of Moab at the beginning of the barley harvest.
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