Ruth:1

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* AND 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 in Judah went to sojourn in the field of Moab , he , and his wife , and his two sons . * 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 Beth-lehem in Judah . And they came into the field of Moab , and continued there . * And Elimelech Naomi 's husband died ; and she was left , and her two sons . * 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 dwelt there about ten years . * And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them ; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband . * Then she arose with her daughters-in-law , that she might return from the field of Moab ; for she had heard in the field of Moab how that the LORD had remembered His people in giving them bread . * And 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 . * And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law : 'Go , return each of you to her mother 's house ; the LORD deal kindly with you , as ye have dealt with the dead , and with 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 . * And they said unto her : 'Nay , but we will return with thee unto thy people .' * And Naomi said : 'Turn back , my daughters ; why will ye go with me ? have I yet sons in my womb , that they may be your husbands ? * Turn back , my daughters , go your way ; for I am too old to have a husband . If I should say : I have hope , should I even have an husband to-night , and also bear sons ; * would ye tarry for them till they were grown ? would ye shut yourselves off for them and have no husbands ? nay , my daughters ; for it grieveth me much for your sakes , for the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me .' * And they lifted up their voice , and wept again ; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law ; but Ruth cleaved unto her . * And she said : 'Behold , thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people , and unto her god ; return thou after thy sister-in - law .' * And 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 ; * where thou diest , will I die , and there will I be buried ; the LORD do so to me , and more also , if aught but death part thee and me .' * And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her , she left off speaking unto her . * So 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 astir concerning them , and the women said : 'Is this Naomi ?' * And she said unto them : 'Call me not Naomi , call me Marah ; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me . * I went out full , and the LORD hath brought me back home empty ; why call ye me Naomi , seeing the LORD hath testified against me , and the Almighty hath afflicted me ?' * So Naomi returned , and Ruth the Moabitess , her daughter-in-law , with her , who returned out of the field of Moab--and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest .

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