1And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged , 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 . 2And 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 . 3And Elimelech, Naomi ’s husband, died ; and she was left , and her two sons . 4And 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 dwelt there about ten years . 5And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them ; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
Naomi's Return to Bethlehem
6Then 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 Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread . 7And 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 . 8And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law , Go , return each of you to her mother’s house : Jehovah deal kindly with you , as ye have dealt with the dead , and with me . 9Jehovah 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 . 10And they said unto her , Nay , but we will return with thee unto thy people . 11And Naomi said, Turn again , my daughters : why will ye go with me ? have I yet sons in my womb , that they may be your husbands ? 12Turn again , 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 to-night, and should also bear sons ; 13would ye therefore tarry till they were grown ? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters , for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me . 14And they lifted up their voice , and wept again : and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law , but Ruth clave unto her .
Ruth's Loyalty
15And she said, Behold , thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people , and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law . 16And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee , and 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; 17where thou diest , will I die , and there will I be buried : Jehovah do so to me , and more also , if aught but death part thee and me . 18And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her , she left off speaking unto her .
Arrival in Bethlehem
19So 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 the women said, Is this Naomi ? 20And she said unto them , Call me not Naomi , call me Mara ; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me . 21I went out full , and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty ; why call ye me Naomi , seeing Jehovah hath testified against me , and the Almighty hath afflicted me ? 22So Naomi returned , and Ruth the Moabitess , her daughter-in-law , with her , who returned out of the country of Moab : and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest .