“1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there
was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to
sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2
And the name of the man [was] Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi,
and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of
Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued
there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her
two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of
the one [was] Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled
there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them;
and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.”
“6 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
that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore
she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in
law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her
mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the
dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each [of
you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted
up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will
return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my
daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my
womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go
[your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have
hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear
sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for
them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much
for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And
they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother
in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in
law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after
thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, [or]
to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people [shall be] my people,
and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be
buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part
thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with
her, then she left speaking unto her.”
“19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to
pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved
about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them,
Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very
bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home
again empty: why [then] call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified
against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned,
and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned
out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning
of barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:1-22 AV)
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