Ruth:1

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* Now it came to pass in the days when the judges governed that there was a famine in the land . And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the fields 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 Bethlehem of Judah . And they came into the fields of Moab and continued there . * And Elimelech , Naomi 's husband , died , and she was left with her two sons , * who took wives for themselves 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 both died also ; and the woman was left without her two sons and her husband . * Then she arose with her daughters-in-law , to return from the fields of Moab , for she had heard in the field of Moab how the LORD had visited his people to give them bread . * Therefore she went forth out of the place where she had been 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 thy mother 's house ; the LORD deal with you in mercy 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 , Surely we will return with thee unto thy people . * And Naomi replied , Go back , my daughters ; why must ye go with me ? Do I have more sons in my womb that they may be your husbands ? * Turn , my daughters , and go back , for I am too old to have a husband . Even if I should say , I have hope , [if ] I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons , * should ye tarry for them until they are grown ? Should ye stay without husbands because of them ? No , my daughters , for I have greater bitterness than you because the hand of the LORD has come out 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 has returned to her people and to her gods ; return thou after thy sister-in-law . * And Ruth said , Do not intreat me to leave thee [or ] to return from following after thee , for wherever thou goest , I will go ; and wherever thou shalt lodge , I will lodge ; thy people [shall be ] my people and thy God my God . * Where thou diest , I will die , and there will I be buried ; let the LORD do so unto me and let him give unto me that only death shall part thee and me . * When she saw that she was courageous to go with her , then she left off speaking to her . * So the two walked until they came to Bethlehem . And it came to pass , entering into Bethlehem , that all the city was moved [because ] of them , and they said , [Is ] this Naomi ? * And she said unto them , Call me not Naomi , call me Mara ; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me . * I went out full , and the LORD has brought me home again empty . Why [then ] call ye me Naomi , seeing the LORD has testified against me , and the Almighty has afflicted me ? * So Naomi returned , and Ruth the Moabitess , her daughter-in-law , with her , who returned out of the fields of Moab , and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest .:

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