¶ Now it came to pass in the days when the judges¹ ruled², that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah³ went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

And the name of the man was Elimelech⁴, and the name of his wife Naomi⁵, and the name of his two sons Mahlon⁶ and Chilion, Ephrathites⁷ of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued⁸ there.

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was⁹ left, and her two sons.

And they took¹⁰ them wives¹¹ of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth¹²: and they dwelled there about ten years.

And Mahlon and Chilion died¹⁴ also both of them; and the woman¹⁵ was left of her two sons and her husband.

¶ 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 visited¹⁶ his people in giving¹⁷ them bread.

Wherefore she went¹⁸ forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went¹⁹ on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go²⁰, return each to her mother's house: the LORD²¹ deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead²², and with me.

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest²³, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed²⁴ them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

¶ And they said unto her, Surely²⁵ we will return with thee unto thy people.

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there²⁶ yet any more sons in my womb, that they²⁷ may be your husbands?

Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old²⁸ to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have²⁹ an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

Would ye tarry³⁰ 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.

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah³¹ kissed her mother in law; but Ruth³² clave unto her.

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back³³ unto her people, and unto³⁴ her gods³⁵: return³⁶ thou after thy sister in law.

And Ruth³⁷ said, Intreat me not³⁸ to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither³⁹ thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people⁴⁰ shall be my people, and thy God⁴¹ my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD⁴² do so to me, and more also, if ought but death⁴³ part thee and me.

When⁴⁴ she saw that she was stedfastly minded⁴⁵ to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

¶ So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city⁴⁶ was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi⁴⁷?

¶ And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi⁴⁸, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt⁴⁹ very bitterly with me.

I went out full, and the⁵⁰ LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD⁵¹ hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

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 Bethlehem in the beginning⁵² of barley harvest.