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)

Read full chapter

Then she arose along with her daughters-in-law to return from the field of Moab, because while in the territory of Moab she had heard that the Lord had paid attention to his people by providing food for them. She left the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law went with her. They went along the road to return to the land of Judah.

Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, “Go, turn back, each of you to the household of your mother. May the Lord deal faithfully with you, just as you have done with the dead and with me. May the Lord provide for you so that you may find security, each woman in the household of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

10 But they replied to her, “No, instead we will return with you, to your people.”

11 Naomi replied, “Turn back, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Will there again be sons in my womb, that they would be husbands for you? 12 Turn back, my daughters. Go. I am too old for a husband. If I were to say that I have hope, even if I had a husband tonight, and even more, if I were to bear sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you refrain from having a husband? No, my daughters. This is more bitter for me than for you, since the Lord’s will has come out against me.”

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth stayed with her.

Read full chapter