1:1 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 Beth- lehem- judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons:

1:2 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 Beth- lehem- judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there:

1:3 And Elimelech Naomi' s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons:

1:4 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:

1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband:

1:6 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:

1:7 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:

1:8 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:

1:9 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:

1:10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people:

1:11 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:

1:12 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:

1:13 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:

1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her:

1:15 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:

1:16 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:

1:17 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:

1:18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her:

1:19 So they two went until they came to Beth- lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth- lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi:

1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me:

1:21 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:

1:22 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 Beth- lehem in the beginning of barley harvest: