Ruth 1:1-13 ▼

1 Now there came a time of famine while judges were ruling in the land of Israel. A man from Bethlehem of Judah, his wife, and his two sons left to live in the country of Moab.

2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and their two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They journeyed to the country of Moab and lived there for some time.

3 Then Naomi's husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons.

4 Each of her sons married Moabite women: one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After they lived there about ten years,

5 both Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving Naomi alone with neither her husband nor her two sons.

6 She and her daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, because she had heard while living there how the LORD had come to the aid of his people, giving them relief.

7 So she left the place where she had been, along with her two daughters-in-law, and they traveled along the return road to the land of Judah.

8 But along the way, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, |Each of you go back home. Return to your mother's house. May the LORD show his gracious love to you, as you have shown me and our loved ones who have died.

9 May the LORD grant each of you security in your new husbands' households.| Then she kissed them good-bye, and they cried loudly.

10 They both replied to her, |No! We'll go back with you to your people.|

11 But Naomi responded, |Go back, my daughters. Why go with me? Are there still sons to be born to me as future husbands for you?

12 So go on back, my daughters! Be on your way! I'm too old to remarry. If I were to say that I'm hoping for a husband tonight and then also bore sons this very night,

13 would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you refrain from marriage for them? No, my daughters! I'm more deeply grieved than you, because the LORD is working against me!|