< Ruth 1 >

1 And it came to pass, in the days when the Judges administered justice, that there was a famine in the land, —and so a certain man went his way, out of Bethlehem-judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
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 out of Bethlehem-judah, —so they came into the country of Moab, and remained there.
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.
3 And Elimelech, husband of Naomi, died, —and she was left, she and her two sons.
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
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 dwelt there, about ten years.
And they took to 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.
5 And, they also, both, died, Mahlon and Chilion, —so the woman was bereft of her two sons, and of her husband.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left by her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned out of the country of Moab, —for she had heard, in the country of Moab, how that Yahweh had visited his people, in giving unto them, bread.
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.
7 So she went forth out of the dwelling-place where she had remained, and her two daughters-in-law with her, —and they went on the way, to return unto the land of Judah.
Wherefore she went forth from 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.
8 Then said Naomi to her two daughters-in-law: Go return, each one to the house of her mother, —Yahweh deal with you in lovingkindness, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
And Naomi said to 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.
9 Yahweh grant you, that ye may find a place of rest, each one in the house of her husband, —And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
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.
10 And they said to her, —With thee, will we return, unto thy people.
And they said to her, surely we will return with thee to thy people.
11 Then said Naomi—Go back, my daughters! wherefore should ye journey with me? Have I, yet, sons in my womb, that they should become your, husbands?
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? shall I bear more sons, 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 to-night have a husband, and should, even bear sons,
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 have a husband also to-night, and should also bear sons;
13 would ye, therefore, tarry until they were grown? would ye, therefore, shut yourselves up from having husbands? Nay! my daughters, for it is far more bitter for me than for you, that forth hath gone against me, the hand of Yahweh.
Would ye wait for them till they should be 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 has gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice and wept, yet more. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in- law, but, Ruth, clave unto her.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth cleaved to her.
15 And she said—Lo! thy sister-in-law hath gone back, unto her people, and unto her gods, —go thou back, after thy sister-in-law.
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law hath gone back to her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth said—Do not urge me to leave thee, to go back from following 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;
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following 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:
17 where thou diest, I will die, and, there, will I be buried: So, let Yahweh do to me, and, so, let him add, if, death itself, part me and thee.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if aught] but death shall part thee and me.
18 And, when she saw that, bravely determined, was she to go with her, she ceased entreating her.
When she saw that she was steadfastly resolved to go with her, then she left speaking to her.
19 So, they two, went their way, until they entered Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they entered Bethlehem, that all the city was moved concerning them, and the women said—Is this Naomi?
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they had come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Do not call me Naomi ["Sweet"], —call me Mara ["Bitter"], for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me:
And she said to them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I was full when I departed, but, empty, am I brought back of Yahweh, —wherefore should ye call me Naomi, when, Yahweh, hath given answer against me, and, the Almighty, hath crushed me?
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?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab, —and, they, entered Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.

< Ruth 1 >