| 1 And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there
was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah 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 Bethlehem-judah. 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 dwelt there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and
Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of
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 Jehovah
had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 And 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 of you to her mother's house: Jehovah deal
kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 Jehovah
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, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have
I yet 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 a husband. If I should say,
I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear
sons; 13 would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore
stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for
your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth 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 god: return thou after thy sister-in-law. 16 And Ruth said,
Entreat me not to leave thee, and 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: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught
but death part thee and me. 18 And when she saw that she was stedfastly
minded to go with her, she left off 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
the women 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 Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call
ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath
afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her
daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they
came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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