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The Book of Ruth

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(1 Timothy 5:3–16)
1
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 sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.(a)
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 Beth–lehem–judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.(b)
3
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 dwelled there about ten years.
5
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

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 the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7
Wherefore 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 unto the land of Judah.
8
And Naomi said unto 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
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 unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;(c)
13
Would ye tarry 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.(d) (e)
14
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after 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:(f)
17
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.(g)

The Return to Bethlehem

19
So they two went until they came to Beth–lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth–lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.(h) (i)
21
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, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth–lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 ruled: Heb. judged
(b)1:2 continued: Heb. were
(c)1:12 should have…: or were with an husband
(d)1:13 tarry: Heb. hope
(e)1:13 it grieveth…: Heb. I have much bitterness
(f)1:16 Intreat…: or, Be not against me
(g)1:18 was…: Heb. strengthened herself
(h)1:20 Naomi: that is, Pleasant
(i)1:20 Mara: that is, Bitter
(1 Timothy 5:3–16)
1
In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
2
The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab and lived there.
3
Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
4
They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years.
5
Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.

Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

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 the LORD (a) had visited his people in giving them bread.
7
She went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her. They went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
9
May The LORD 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 voices, and wept.
10
They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.”
11
Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, 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 have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons,
13
would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for the LORD’s hand has gone out against me.”
14
They lifted up their voices and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth stayed with her.
15
She said, “Behold,(b) your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”
16
Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God(c) my God.
17
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”
18
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

The Return to Bethlehem

19
So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?”
20
She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi.(d) Call me Mara,(e) for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21
I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
22
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Footnotes

(a)1:6 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
(b)1:15 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
(c)1:16 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
(d)1:20 “Naomi” means “pleasant”.
(e)1:20 “Mara” means “bitter”.
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