1 During the time when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah left to live temporarily in the fields of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.

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.

2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the fields of Moab and settled there.

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.

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

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

4 These sons married Moabite women. One was named Orpah, and the other was named Ruth. They lived there about ten years.

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.

5 Then both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

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

6 Naomi arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the fields of Moab because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food.

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.

7 She left the place where she had been living, along with her two daughters-in-law, and they began to travel on the road back to the land of Judah.

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.

8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

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.

9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." She kissed them goodbye, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

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.

10 They said to her, "We will go back with you to your people."

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

11 But Naomi replied, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands?

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?

12 Return home, my daughters. I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—

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;

13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters, it is more bitter for me than for you because the LORD’s hand has turned against me."

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.

14 They lifted up their voices and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

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

15 Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Return with her."

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.

16 But Ruth replied, "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

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:

17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.

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.

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.

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

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"

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?

20 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

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

21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.

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?

22 So Naomi returned from the fields of Moab, accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

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.