Rut 1 | ABEn | STEP | And it came to pass in the days in the judging of the judges. And came to pass a famine in the land. And went forth a man from Beth-lehem of Judea to sojourn in the field of Moab, he, and his wife, and [ 2 two 3 sons 1 his].

‏ Ruth 1

CHAPTER 1 Elimelech and Naomi Go to Moab

1 And it came to pass in the days in the judging of the judges. And came to pass a famine in the land. And went forth a man from Beth-lehem of Judea to sojourn in the field of Moab, he, and his wife, and [²two ³sons ¹his]. 2 And the name to the man was Elimelech, and the name to his wife was Naomi, and the name to [²two ³sons ¹his] -- Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites from Beth-lehem of Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and were there.

Death of Naomi's Husband and Sons

3 And [⁵died ¹Elimelech ²the ³husband ⁴of Naomi], and [⁶were left ¹she ²and ⁴two ⁵sons ³her]. 4 And they took to themselves Moabite wives; the name to the one was Orpah, and the name to the second Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 And [⁷died ¹also ²indeed ³both ⁴Mahlon ⁵and ⁶Chilion]. And [³was left ¹the ²woman] of [²two ³sons ¹her], and of her husband. 6 And she rose up, and [²two ³daughter-in-laws ¹her], and they returned from out of the country of Moab; for they heard in the country of Moab that the lord visited his people to give to them bread loaves. 7 And she went forth from out of the place of which she was there, and [²two ³daughter-in-laws ¹her] with her; and they went by journey to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to [²two ³daughters-in-law ¹her], Go please! Let [²return ¹each] to the house of her mother! May the lord deal [²with ³you ¹mercy], as you did with the ones having died, and with me. 9 May the lord give to you that you should find rest each in the house of her husband. And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept. 10 And they said to her, [²with ³you ¹We shall return] unto your people. 11 And Naomi said, Return please, my daughters! Why do you go with me? Are there still to me sons in my belly, and will they be to you for husbands? 12 Turn back please, my daughters! Go please! for I grow old to not have a husband. For I said, Is it to me a reality to be to me a husband, and shall I give birth to sons? 13 Shall you wait for them until of which time they should become manly? Or, for them shall you hold up to not have a husband? No, my daughters; for it is made bitter to me exceedingly for you, that [³came forth ⁴against ⁵me ¹the hand ²of the lord]. 14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and turned back to her people. But Ruth followed her. 15 And Naomi said to Ruth, Behold, [³returned ²sister-in-law ¹your] to her people, and to her gods; [⁴turn back ³please ²also ¹you] after your sister-in-law!

Ruth Returns with Naomi

16 [³said ¹And ²Ruth], Do not confront me to leave you or to turn behind you! For you -- where ever you should go, I shall go; and where ever you should lodge, I shall lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 And where ever you should die, I shall die, and there I shall be entombed. Thus [²do ¹the lord] to me! and thus may he add more. For death only shall separate between me and you. 18 [³seeing ¹And ²Naomi] that she was determined to go with her, she abated to speak to her any more. 19 [³went ¹And ²both] until their arriving in Beth-lehem. And it came to pass in their coming unto Beth-lehem, that [⁴resounded ¹all ²the ³city] concerning them. And they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said to them, Do not indeed call me Naomi! Call me, Bitter one! for [³embittered ⁴me ¹the ²worthy one] exceedingly. 21 I went out full, and [⁴empty ²returned ³me ¹the lord]. And why do you call me Naomi, and the lord humbled me, and the worthy one afflicted me? 22 And Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, to return from the country of Moab. And they came unto Beth-lehem at the beginning [²harvest ¹of barley].