Chapter 1
1 In the days when the judges judged , there was a famine in the land . A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons .
2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi . The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion , Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah . They came into the country of Moab and lived there .
3 Elimelech, Naomi ’s husband, died ; and she was left with her two sons .
4 They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab . The name of the one was Orpah , and the name of the other was Ruth . They lived there about ten years .
5 Mahlon and Chilion both died , and the woman was bereaved 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 Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread .
7 She went out of the place where she was , and her two daughters-in-law with her . They went on the way to return to the land of Judah .
8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law , " Go , return each of you to her mother’s house . May Yahweh deal kindly with you , as you have dealt with the dead and with me .
9 May Yahweh grant you that you may find rest , each of you in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them , and they lifted up their voices , and wept .
10 They said to her , "No, but we will return with you to your people ."
11 Naomi said, " Go back , my daughters . Why do you want to go with me ? Do I still have sons in my womb , that they may be your husbands ?
12 Go back , 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 tonight , and should also bear sons ,
13 would you then wait until they were grown ? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No , my daughters , for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh ’s hand has gone out against me ."
14 They lifted up their voices and wept again ; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law , but Ruth stayed with her .
15 She said, " Behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law ."
16 Ruth said, "Don’t urge me to leave you , and to return from following you , for where you go , I will go ; and where you stay , I will stay . Your people will be my people , and your God " (Elohim). my God.
17 Where you die , I will die , and there I will be buried . May Yahweh do so to me , and more also , if anything but death parts you and me ."
18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her , she stopped urging her .
19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem . When they had come to Bethlehem , all the city was excited about them , and they asked, " Is this Naomi ?"
20 She said to them , "Don’t call me Naomi . Call me Mara , for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me .
21 I went out full , and Yahweh has brought me home again empty . Why do you call me Naomi , since Yahweh has testified against me , and the Almighty has afflicted me ?"
22 So Naomi returned , and Ruth the Moabitess , her daughter-in-law , with her , who returned out of the country of Moab . They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest .