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¹ NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Beth-lehem of Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.² And the name of the man was Elimeleck, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons Malion and Calion, Ephrathites from Beth-lehem of Judah. And they came to the land of Moab to sojourn there.³ And Elimeleck the husband of Naomi died; and she was left with her two sons.⁴ And they took them wives of the Moabite women; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth; and they dwelt there about ten years.⁵ And Malion and Calion, her two sons, died; and the woman was bereft of her husband and her two sons.

⁶ Then she started with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab; for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited his people in giving them food.⁷ So she went forth out of the place where they sojourned, along with her two daughters-in-law, to return and go to the land of Judah.⁸ And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Return, go back to your own country and to the house of your kinsmen; may the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with me and with both of my sons who now are dead.⁹ The LORD grant you favor so that you may find rest in the house of your parents. Then she kissed them: and they lifted up their voices and wept.¹⁰ And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your land and to your people.¹¹ But Naomi said to them, Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Will I bear sons again that they may be your husbands?¹² Turn back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, and even if I should have a husband, and should also bear sons;¹³ Would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you stay for them from having husbands? No, my daughters; for I am greatly grieved for your sakes, and it grieves me more than it does you, because the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me.¹⁴ And they lifted up their voices again and wept; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and turned back and went away; but Ruth clung to her.¹⁵ And her mother-in-law said to her, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her kinsmen; return also after your sister-in-law.¹⁶ And Ruth said to her, Far be it from me to return from following after you, and to leave you; for where you go, I will go; and where you dwell, I will dwell; your people shall be my people, and your God my God:¹⁷ Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.¹⁸ When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, then she ceased from urging her to go back.

¹⁹ So they went together until they came to Beth-lehem of Judah. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, the whole city rejoiced over them, and they said, Is this Naomi?²⁰ And she said to them, Do not call me Naomi, but call me Bitter of Soul; for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.²¹ For I went forth from here full, and the LORD has brought me back empty; why then call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has humbled me, and has sorely afflicted me?²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, for she was wholeheartedly willing to return with her, and they came from the land of Moab at the beginning of the barley harvest.