Ruth 1

Tragedy Strikes Naomi Ruth 1:3–5

³Verse 3. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. ⁴Verse 4. They 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. ⁵Verse 5. Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.

Naomi Decides to Return Ruth 1:6–9

⁶Verse 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 Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread. ⁷Verse 7. She 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. ⁸Verse 8. Naomi 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. ⁹Verse 9. May 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.

Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi Ruth 1:10–14

¹⁰Verse 10. They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.” ¹¹Verse 11. Naomi 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? ¹²Verse 12. Go 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; ¹³Verse 13. would 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.”

¹⁴Verse 14. They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.

Ruth's Commitment Ruth 1:15–18

¹⁵Verse 15. She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.” ¹⁶Verse 16. Ruth 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. ¹⁷Verse 17. Where 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.” ¹⁸Verse 18. When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Naomi's Bitterness Ruth 1:19–21

¹⁹Verse 19. So 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?” ²⁰Verse 20. She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. ²¹Verse 21. I 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?”

Arrival in Bethlehem Ruth 1:22

²²Verse 22. So 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.