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Naomi Returns with Ruth

And she got up, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the countryside of Moab, because she had heard in the countryside of Moab that Yahweh had come to the aid of[a] his people to give food to them. So she set out from the place where she was[b] and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, each of you return to her mother’s house. May Yahweh show kindness to you[c] just as you did with the dead and with me. May Yahweh grant that you[d] find a resting place, each in the house of her husband.” And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and cried.

10 And they said to her, “No, we want to return with you to your people.” 11 And Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why do you still want to go with me?[e] Are there sons in my womb[f] that may be husbands for you? 12 Turn back, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband.[g] If I should think there is hope for me, even if I should have a husband this night, and even if I should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying?[h] No, my daughters, for it is far more bitter to me than to you. For the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me.” 14 And they lifted up their voices and cried again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 1:6 Literally “had considered”
  2. Ruth 1:7 Literally “which she was there”
  3. Ruth 1:8 Literally “do loyal love with you”
  4. Ruth 1:9 Literally “give to you”
  5. Ruth 1:11 Literally “To what do you want to go still for me?”
  6. Ruth 1:11 Literally “in my intestines”
  7. Ruth 1:12 Literally “I am too old from being to a man”
  8. Ruth 1:13 Literally “Would you therefore let yourself be hindered to not belong to a man?”

Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem

When Naomi heard in Moab(A) that the Lord had come to the aid of his people(B) by providing food(C) for them, she and her daughters-in-law(D) prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home.(E) May the Lord show you kindness,(F) as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands(G) and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest(H) in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed(I) them goodbye and they wept aloud(J) 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?(K) 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up?(L) Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter(M) for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!(N)

14 At this they wept(O) aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law(P) goodbye,(Q) but Ruth clung to her.(R)

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