Ruth 1:3-21

3Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5Then 1both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had 2visited His people in 3giving them food. 7So she departed 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. 8And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. 4May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.” 11But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that 5they may be your husbands? 12Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is 6harder for me than for you, for 7the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” 14And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her 8gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or 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. 17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may 9the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” 18When 10she saw that she was determined to go with her, she 11said no more to her.

19So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, 12all the city was stirred because of them, and 13the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20She said to them, “Do not call me 14Naomi; call me 15Mara, for 1617the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21I went out full, but 18the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and 19the Almighty has afflicted me?”