1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine. He took his wife and two sons and went to live in the country of Moab.
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. During their stay in Moab,
3Elimelech died and Naomi 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,
5both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her husband or sons.
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.
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.
8But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters–in–law, "Go back to your mothers’ homes instead of coming with me. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to 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.
10"No," they said. "We want to go 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?
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?
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 caused me to suffer."
14And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother–in–law good–bye. But Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi.
15"See," Naomi said to her, "your sister–in–law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same."
16But Ruth replied, "Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"
18So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her.
19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was stirred by their arrival. "Is it really Naomi?" the women asked.
20"Don’t call me Naomi," she told them. "Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.
21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?"
22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter–in–law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.