Ruth 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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

During the time when judges governed, a severe famine struck the land. A man from Bethlehem, along with his wife and two sons, had no choice but to leave their home and seek refuge in the land of Moab.

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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Elimelech was the man's name, his wife was Naomi, and they had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. They were from Bethlehemjudah, Ephrathites by birth. They journeyed to the land of Moab, where they decided to stay.

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Elimelech, Naomi's beloved husband, passed away, leaving her alone with their two sons, her heart heavy with grief.

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.

They married women from Moab, one named Orpah, the other Ruth, and lived there happily for nearly a decade.

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Tragedy struck as both Mahlon and Chilion passed away, leaving the woman in profound grief, bereft of her husband and her two sons.

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.

Overwhelmed with hope, she and her daughters-in-law decided to leave Moab. They had heard that the Lord had blessed their homeland with food again.

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.

So, she bravely left her familiar surroundings, her two daughters-in-law loyally by her side. Together, they embarked on a journey, heading back to their homeland, Judah.

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.

Naomi lovingly told her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mother's homes. May God bless you for your kindness to those who have passed and to me."

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.

May the Lord bless you with peace in your husband's home. She embraced them, their voices rose in a chorus of tears.

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

With heartfelt assurance, they promised her, "Indeed, we will come back with you to your people."

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?

Naomi pleaded, "My dear daughters, why follow me? Do I have any more sons in my womb to become your husbands?"

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;

My dear daughters, please return to your lives. I am too aged now to remarry. Even if I dared to hope, to find a husband tonight and bear sons, it wouldn't be fair to you.

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.

Would you wait for them to mature? Would you hold back from marrying for them? No, my dear daughters. It deeply saddens me for your sakes that the Lord's hand has turned against me.

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Overwhelmed with emotion, they cried once more. Orpah tenderly kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, while Ruth clung to her, refusing to let go.

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.

She expressed, "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and her gods. Follow her path back to your family."

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:

Ruth pleaded, "Don't ask me to leave you or stop following you. Wherever you go, I'll go; wherever you stay, I'll stay. Your people will be my people, your God, my God."

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.

I'll stay with you, even in death, and that's where I'll be laid to rest. May God punish me severely if anything but death separates us.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Seeing her unwavering determination to accompany her, she finally stopped trying to dissuade her.

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Together, they journeyed until they reached Bethlehem. Upon their arrival, the entire city was stirred, filled with surprise and curiosity, they asked, "Could this be Naomi?"

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

She pleaded with them, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara. For God has treated me harshly."

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?

I left brimming with life, but God brought me back with nothing. Why call me Naomi, when God has turned against me and the Almighty has brought me such suffering?

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 Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Naomi, heart heavy with loss, returned home from Moab, her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth by her side. They arrived in Bethlehem, just as the barley harvest began.