Ruth 1:1-13 ▼

1 And it came to pass when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a man went from Bethleem Juda to sojourn in the land of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

2 And the man's name was Elimelech, and his wife's name Noemin, and the names of his two sons Maalon and Chelaion, Ephrathites of Bethleem of Juda: and they came to the land of Moab, and remained there.

3 And Elimelech the husband of Noemin died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4 And they took to themselves wives, women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpha, and the name of the second Ruth; and they dwelt there about ten years.

5 And both Maalon and Chelaion died also; and the woman was left of her husband and her two sons.

6 And she rose up and her two daughters-in-law, and they returned out of the country of Moab, for she heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited his people to give them bread.

7 And she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her: and they went by the way to return to the land of Juda.

8 And Noemin said to her daughter-in-law, Go now, return each to the house of her mother: the Lord deal mercifully 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: and she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10 And they said to her, We will return with thee to thy people.

11 And Noemin said, Return now, my daughters; and why do ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb to be your husbands?

12 Turn now, my daughters, for I am too old to be married: for I said, Suppose I were married, and should bear sons;

13 would ye wait for them till they should be grown? or would ye refrain from being married for their sakes? Not so, my daughters; for I am grieved for you, that the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.