Ruth 1

1In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons.Cross-references: Gen 12:10 · Gen 26:1 · Gen 43:1 · Lev 26:19 · Deut 28:23 · Deut 28:38 · +16 more

2The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab and lived there.Cross-references: Gen 35:19 · 1Sam 1:1 · 1Sam 17:21 · Mic 5:2

3Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.Cross-references: 2Ki 4:1 · Ps 34:19 · Heb 12:6 · Heb 12:10

4They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years.Cross-references: Deut 7:3 · Deut 23:3 · 1Ki 11:1 · Matt 1:5

5Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.Cross-references: Deut 32:39 · Ps 89:30 · Isa 49:21 · Jer 2:19 · Matt 22:25 · Luke 7:12

6Then 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 Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.Cross-references: Gen 21:1 · Gen 28:20 · Gen 48:15 · Gen 50:25 · Ex 3:16 · Ex 4:31 · +17 more

7She went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her. They went on the way to return to the land of Judah.Cross-references: Ex 18:27 · Ruth 1:10 · Ruth 1:14 · 2Ki 8:3

8Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.Cross-references: Josh 24:15 · Ruth 1:5 · Ruth 2:20 · Luke 14:25 · Eph 5:22 · Eph 6:2 · +4 more

9May Yahweh grant you 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.Cross-references: Gen 27:27 · Gen 29:11 · Gen 45:15 · Ruth 3:1 · Acts 20:37

10They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.”Cross-references: Ps 16:3 · Ps 119:63 · Zech 8:23

11Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?Cross-references: Gen 38:11 · Deut 25:5

12Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons,Cross-references: Gen 17:17 · 1Tim 5:9

13would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me.”Cross-references: Deut 2:15 · Judg 2:15 · 1Sam 5:11 · Job 19:21 · Ps 32:4 · Ps 38:2 · +1 more

14They lifted up their voices and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth stayed with her.Cross-references: Gen 31:28 · Gen 31:55 · Deut 4:4 · Deut 10:20 · 1Ki 19:20 · Prov 17:17 · +11 more

15She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”Cross-references: Josh 24:15 · Josh 24:19 · Judg 11:24 · 2Sam 15:19 · 2Ki 2:2 · Ps 36:3 · +7 more

16Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.Cross-references: Josh 24:18 · Ruth 2:11 · 2Sam 15:21 · 2Ki 2:2 · Ps 45:10 · Isa 14:1 · +11 more

17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”Cross-references: 1Sam 3:17 · 1Sam 25:22 · 2Sam 3:9 · 2Sam 3:35 · 2Sam 19:13 · 1Ki 2:23 · +5 more

18When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.Cross-references: Acts 2:42 · Acts 21:14 · Eph 6:10

19So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?”Cross-references: Isa 23:7 · Lam 2:15 · Matt 21:10

20She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.Cross-references: Gen 17:1 · Gen 43:14 · Ex 6:3 · Job 5:17 · Job 6:4 · Job 11:7 · +8 more

21I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”Cross-references: 1Sam 2:7 · Job 1:21 · Job 10:17 · Job 13:26 · Job 16:8 · Mal 3:5

22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.Cross-references: Ex 9:31 · Ruth 2:23 · 2Sam 21:9