1 I n the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

2 T he man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there.

The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.

3 B ut Elimelech, who Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

4 A nd they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years;

They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

5 A nd Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband.

Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

6 T hen she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might 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 S o she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.

So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

8 B ut Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

9 T he Lord grant that you may find a home and rest, each in the house of her husband! Then she kissed them and they wept aloud.

May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

10 A nd they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.

And they said to her, “ No, but we will surely return with you to your people.”

11 B ut Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become your husbands?

But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 T urn back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons,

Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons,

13 W ould you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; it is far more bitter for me than for you that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” Ruth’s Loyalty

14 T hen they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 A nd Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.

Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

16 A nd Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

17 W here you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.

Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

18 W hen Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.

When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

19 S o they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred about them, and said, Is this Naomi?

So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

20 A nd she said to them, Call me not Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

21 I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

22 S o Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.