1:1 And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-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 Bethlehem-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 themselves wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.
1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of 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 Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.
1:7 And 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 to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you+ to her mother's house: Yahweh deal kindly with you+, as you+ have dealt with the dead, and with me.
1:9 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 voice, and wept.
1:10 And they said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people.
1:11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you+ go with me? Have I yet sons inside me, that they may be your+ husbands?
1:12 Turn again, 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;
1:13 would you+ therefore tarry until they were grown? Would you+ therefore refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your+ sakes, for the hand of Yahweh has gone forth against me.
1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth stuck to her.
1:15 And she said, Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. You return after your sister-in-law!
1:16 And Ruth said, Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people will be my people, and your God my God;
1:17 where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.
1:18 And when she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her.
1:19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and [the women] said, Is this Naomi?
1:20 And she said to them, Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
1:21 I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty; why do you+ call me Naomi, seeing Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?
1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.