Ruth Chapter 1

Naomi Widowed

1Now it cameH1961 aboutH1961 in the daysH3117 1when the judgesH8199 2governedH8199, that there was 3a famineH7458 in the landH776. And a manH376 4of BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063 wentH1980 to resideH1481 in the landH7704 of MoabH4124 5with his wifeH802 and his twoH8147 sonsH1121. 2The nameH8034 of the manH376 was ElimelechH458, and the nameH8034 of his wifeH802, NaomiH5281; and the namesH8034 of his twoH8147 sonsH1121 were MahlonH4248 and ChilionH3630, EphrathitesH673 of BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063. So they 6enteredH935 the landH7704 of MoabH4124 and remainedH1961 thereH8033. 3Then ElimelechH458, Naomi’sH5281 husbandH376, diedH4191; and she was leftH7604 with her twoH8147 sonsH1121. 4And they tookH5375 for themselvesH1992 MoabiteH4125 women as wivesH802; the nameH8034 of the oneH259 was OrpahH6204, and the nameH8034 of the otherH8145, RuthH7327. And they livedH3427 thereH8033 about tenH6235 yearsH8141. 5Then 7bothH8147 MahlonH4248 and ChilionH3630 alsoH1571 diedH4191, and the womanH802 was leftH7604 withoutH7604 her twoH8147 sonsH3206 and her husbandH376.

6Then she aroseH6965 with her daughters-in-lawH3618 to returnH7725 from the landH7704 of MoabH4124, becauseH3588 she had heardH8085 in the landH7704 of MoabH4124 that the LordH3068 had 8visitedH6485 His peopleH5971 by 9givingH5414 them foodH3899. 7So she departedH3318 from the placeH4725 whereH834H8033 she was, and her twoH8147 daughters-in-lawH3618 with her; and they wentH1980 on the wayH1870 to returnH7725 to the landH776 of JudahH3063. 8But NaomiH5281 saidH559 to her twoH8147 daughters-in-lawH3618, “GoH1980, returnH7725 eachH802 of you to 10your mother’sH517 houseH1004. 11May the LordH3068 dealH6213 kindlyH2617 with you as you have dealtH6213 with the deadH4191 and with me. 9May the LordH3068 grantH5414 that you may findH4672 a placeH4496 ofH4496 restH4496, eachH802 oneH802 in the houseH1004 of her husbandH376.” Then she kissedH5401 them, and they raisedH5375 their voicesH6963 and weptH1058. 10However, they saidH559 to her, “No, but we will returnH7725 with you to your peopleH5971.” 11But NaomiH5281 saidH559, “ReturnH7725, my daughtersH1323. WhyH4100 should you goH1980 with me? Do I stillH5750 have sonsH1121 in my wombH4578, that 12they may be your husbandsH376? 12ReturnH7725, my daughtersH1323! GoH1980, for I amH2204 tooH4480 oldH2204 to haveH1961 a husbandH376. IfH3588 I saidH559 I haveH3426 hopeH8615, if I were evenH1571 to haveH1961 a husbandH376 tonightH3915 and alsoH1571 giveH3205 birthH3205 to sonsH1121, 13would you thereforeH3860 waitH7663 untilH5704H834 they were grownH1431? Would you thereforeH3860 refrainH5702 from marryingH1115H1961H376? NoH408, my daughtersH1323; for it isH4843 muchH3966 moreH4480 bitterH4843 for me thanH4480 for you, becauseH3588 13the handH3027 of the LordH3068 has comeH3318 outH3318 against me.”

Ruth’s Loyalty

14And they raisedH5375 their voicesH6963 and weptH1058 againH5750; and OrpahH6204 kissedH5401 her mother-in-lawH2545, but RuthH7327 clungH1692 to her.

15Then she saidH559, “BeholdH2009, your sister-in-lawH2994 has goneH7725 backH7725 to her peopleH5971 and her 14godsH430; returnH7725 afterH310 your sister-in-lawH2994.” 16But RuthH7327 saidH559, “Do not pleadH6293 with me to leaveH5800 you or to turnH7725 backH7725 from followingH310 you; for whereH413H834 you goH1980, I will goH1980, and whereH834 you sleepH3885, I will sleepH3885. Your peopleH5971 shall be my peopleH5971, and your GodH430, my GodH430. 17WhereH834 you dieH4191, I will dieH4191, and thereH8033 I will be buriedH6912. May 15the LordH3068 doH6213 so to me, and worseH3541H3254, ifH3588 anything but deathH4194 separatesH6504 16me from you.” 18When 17she sawH7200 that she wasH553 determinedH553 to goH1980 with her, she stoppedH2308 speakingH1696 to her about it.

19So they bothH8147 wentH1980 on untilH5704 they cameH935 to BethlehemH1035. And when they had comeH935 to BethlehemH1035, 18allH3605 the cityH5892 was stirredH1949 becauseH5921 of them, and 19the women saidH559, “Is thisH2088 NaomiH5281?” 20But she saidH559 to them, “Do not callH7121 me 20NaomiH5281; callH7121 me 21MaraH4755, for 2223the AlmightyH7706 has dealtH4843 veryH3966 bitterlyH4843 with me. 21I wentH1980 away fullH4392, but 24the LordH3068 has broughtH7725 me backH7725 emptyH7387. WhyH4100 do you callH7121 me NaomiH5281, since the LordH3068 has testifiedH6030 against me and 25the AlmightyH7706 has afflictedH7489 me?”

22So NaomiH5281 returnedH7725, and with her RuthH7327 the MoabitessH4125, her daughter-in-lawH3618, who returnedH7725 from the landH7704 of MoabH4124. And they cameH935 to BethlehemH1035 at 26the beginningH8462 of barleyH8184 harvestH7105.