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Ruth 1

Famine, exile and three deaths leave Naomi bitter and empty in Moab. She urges her widowed daughters-in-law to go home, but Ruth refuses, binding herself to Naomi, her people and her God. The two women arrive in Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest.

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Key verses

  • Verse 16Ruth chooses Naomi, her people and her God.
  • Verse 17Ruth's loyalty holds until death.
  • Verse 20Naomi names her grief honestly before God.

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.SelectedRuth 1:1Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:2Ask

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.SelectedRuth 1:3Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:4Ask

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.SelectedRuth 1:5Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:6Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:7Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:8Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:9Ask

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.SelectedRuth 1:10Ask

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?SelectedRuth 1:11Ask

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;SelectedRuth 1:12Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:13Ask

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.SelectedRuth 1:14Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:15Ask

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:SelectedRuth 1:16Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:17Ask

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.SelectedRuth 1:18Ask

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?SelectedRuth 1:19Ask

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.SelectedRuth 1:20Ask

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?SelectedRuth 1:21Ask

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.SelectedRuth 1:22Ask

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All 4 chapters of Ruth
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4