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.

In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he, and 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. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and lived there.

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

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 wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. 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.

Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of 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 country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.

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.

She went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her. 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.

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh 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 Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you 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.

They said to her, “No, but we will 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?

Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have 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,

Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should 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 then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me.”

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

They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with 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.

She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow 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.

Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will 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. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, 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 stopped urging 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. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “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, “Don’t 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, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified 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 Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.