14 Again they cried openly. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye; but Ruth embraced her and held on.

15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back home to live with her own people and gods; go with her.”

16-17 But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!”

18-19 When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in. And so the two of them traveled on together to Bethlehem.

When they arrived in Bethlehem the whole town was soon buzzing: “Is this really our Naomi? And after all this time!”

Read full chapter

14 At this they wept(A) aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law(B) goodbye,(C) but Ruth clung to her.(D)

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law(E) is going back to her people and her gods.(F) Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you(G) or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,(H) and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people(I) and your God my God.(J) 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely,(K) if even death separates you and me.”(L) 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.(M)

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.(N) When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred(O) because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

Read full chapter