1 I n the days when there were judges to rule, there was a time of no food in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to visit the land of Moab with 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 name of the man was Elimelech. His wife’s name was Naomi. And the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the land of Moab and stayed 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 Naomi’s husband Elimelech died. And she was left with her two sons,

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

4 w ho married Moabite women. The name of one was Orpah. The name of the other was Ruth. After living 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 b oth Mahlon and Chilion died. Naomi was left without her two children and her husband. Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem

Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.

6 T hen Naomi got ready to return from the land of Moab with her daughters-in-law. She had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had brought food to His people.

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 with her two daughters-in-law and went on the way toward the land of 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, each one of you return to your own mother’s house. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have done 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 M ay the Lord help you to find a home, each in the family of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they cried in loud voices.

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 T hey 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, “Return to your people, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Do I have more sons within me, who could 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 R eturn, my daughters. Go. For I am too old to have a husband. If I had hope, if I should have a husband tonight and give birth to 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 wait until they were grown? Would you not marry until then? No, my daughters. It is harder for me than for you. For the hand of the Lord is 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 cried again in loud voices. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law. But Ruth held on to her.

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

15 N aomi said, “See, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and 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 B ut Ruth said, “Do not beg me to leave you or turn away from following you. I will go where you go. I will live where you live. Your people will be my people. And your God will be 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 I will die where you die, and there I will be buried. So may the Lord do the same to me, and worse, if anything but death takes 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 would do nothing but go with her, she said no more to her.

When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 S o they both went until they came to Bethlehem. The whole town of Bethlehem was happy because of them. The women 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 S he said to them, “Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara. For the All-powerful has brought much trouble to 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 made me return empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has spoken against me. The All-powerful has allowed me to suffer.”

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 her daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabite woman, returned with her from the land of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley gathering time.

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.