Ruth 1:1-5

1There was a time when judges ruled Israel. During that time there was a famine in Judah. A man who lived in Bethlehem, in Judah, had a wife and two sons. His name was Elimelech. Elimelech's wife was called Naomi, and his sons were called Mahlon and Kilion. They were from Ephrathah's clan. Because there was not enough food in Judah, Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem. They went to live as strangers in Moab.

3Elimelech died while they were living in Moab. Naomi and her two sons remained there alone.

4Then Naomi's sons married women from Moab. Mahlon married a woman called Ruth. Kilion married a woman called Orpah.

5After they had all lived in Moab for about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion died. Now Naomi was completely alone, without her husband or her sons.