Ruth 1
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1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him.1In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
2The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.2The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
3Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons.3But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later,4These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
5both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. Naomi and Ruth Return5and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6Then Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.
7With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.7So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
9May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.9The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10“No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”10And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”
11But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands?11But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?
12No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what?12Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons,
13Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has raised his fist against me.”13would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi.14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”15And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
16But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.16But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.18And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.19So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
20“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.20She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”21I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Judges 21
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