Ruth, 1

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.

1. There was a famine in the land during the time of the Judges, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed with his wife and two sons to sojourn in the country of Moab.

2. 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.

2. The man was Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. A little later, after they had settled in Moab,

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

3. Naomi's husband Elimelech died. She was left with her two sons,

4. 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.

4. who married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After living in Moab for about ten years,

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

5. Mahlon and Chilion also died and Naomi was left bereft of husband and two sons.

6. 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.

6. Having heard that Yahweh had come to help his people by giving them food, Naomi prepared to return home.

7. 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.

7. With her two daughters-in-law, she took the road back to Judah.

8. 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.

8. It was then that Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's house. And may Yahweh be kind to you, as you have been to your dead and to me.

9. 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.

9. May he also grant each of you rest in the home of another husband." She kissed them goodbye. But they wept aloud

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

10. and said to her, "No, we will go back with you to your people."

11. 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?

11. Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why should you come with me, when I have no more sons to become your husbands?

12. 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;

12. Return home, my daughters. I am now too old to marry again. Even if I hope to have a husband tonight and give birth to sons,

13. 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.

13. would you remain unmarried waiting for them to grow up? No, my daughters. I won't share my lot with you for it is too bitter. Yahweh's hand has been raised against me!"

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

14. Again they sobbed and wept. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15. 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.

15. Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law returns to her people and her gods. You too must return. Go after her."

16. 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:

16. Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you. For I will go where you go and stay where you stay. Your people will be my people and your god, my God.

17. 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.

17. Where you die, there will I die and be buried. May Yahweh deal with me severely if anything except death separates us."

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

18. Realizing that Ruth was determined to go with her, Naomi stopped urging her.

19. 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?

19. So the two went on till they reached Bethlehem. Their arrival set the town astir. Women asked, "Can this be Naomi?"

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

20. She said to them, "Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara for Yahweh has made life bitter for me.

21. 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?

21. I came away full but go back empty. Why call me Naomi, when Yahweh has afflicted me?"

22. 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.

22. Thus it was that Naomi returned from Moab with her Moabite daughter-in-law and arrived in Bethlehem as the barley harvest began.