1 N ow it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

In 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.

2 T he name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.

The 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.

3 T hen Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

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

4 N ow they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.

And 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;

5 T hen both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Naomi Returns with Ruth

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

6 T hen 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 that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread.

Then 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.

7 T herefore she went out 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.

So she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.

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

But 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 rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

The 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.

10 A nd they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.

11 B ut Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become 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, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,

Turn 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,

13 w ould you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”

Would 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.

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

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

15 A nd she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

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

16 B ut Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

And 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.

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 you and me.”

Where 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.

18 W hen she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

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

19 N ow the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “ Is this Naomi?”

So 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?

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

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

21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you 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 home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord 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. Now 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 from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.