Reformation Directory

2 Elimélech goeth with his wife & children into the land of Moáb. 3 He and his sons die. 19 Naomi and Ruth come to Beth-léhem.

1.In the time that the judges ^ruled, there was a dearth in the ^aland, and a man of Beth-léhem ^bJudáh went for to sojourn in the country of Moáb, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

2.And the name of the man was Elimélech, and the name of his wife, Naomí: and the names of his two sons, Mahlón, and Chilión, Ephrathites of Beth-léhem Judáh: and when they came into the land of Moáb, they continued there.

3.Then Elimélech the husband of Naomí died, and she remained with her two sons,

4.Which took them wives of the ^cMoabites: the ones name was Orpáh, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

5.And Mahlón and Chilión died also both twain: so the woman was left destitute of her two sons, and of her husband.

6.¶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, and returned from the country of Moáb, for she had heard say in the country of Moáb, that the Lord had ^dvisited his people, & given them bread.

7.Wherefore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her, and they went on their way to return unto the land of Judáh.

8.Then Naomí said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each of you unto her own mother’s house: the Lord shewe favour unto you, as ye have done with the dead, and with me.

9.The Lord grant you, that you may find ^erest, either of you in the house of her husband. And when she kissed them, they lift up their voice and wept.

10.And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11.But Naomí said, Turn again, my daughters: for what cause will you go with me? are there any mo 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, and if I had an husband this night: yea, if I had born sons,

13.Would ye tarry for them, till they were of age? would ye be differed for them from taking of husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieveth me ^much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

14.Then they lift up their voice, and wept again, and Orpáh ^fkissed her mother in law, but Ruth abode still with her.

15.And Naomí said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto of Ruth her people and unto her gods: ^greturn thou after thy sister in law.

16.And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to depart from thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou dwellest, I will dwell: thy people shalbe my people, and thy God my God.

17.Where thou dyest, will I die, & there will I be buryed, the Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death depart thee & me.

18.¶ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her.

19.So they went both until they came to Beth-léhem: and when they were come to Beth-léhem , it was ^hnoised of them through all the city, and they said, Is not this Naomí?

20.And she answered them, Call me not ^Naomí, but call me ^Mará: for the Almighty hath given me much bitterness.

21.I went out full, and the Lord hath caused me to return empty: why call ye me Naomí, seeing the Lord hath humbled me, and the Almighty hath brought me unto adversity.

22.So Naomí returned and Ruth the Moabitesse her daughter in law with her, when she came out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-léhem in the beginning of ⁱbarley harvest.

Ruth 1

Notes