Beginning
1 In the time that the Judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab (he and his wife and his two sons).
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the names of his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion (Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah). And when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
3 Then, Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died. And she remained with her two sons, who took wives of the Moabites. One’s name was Orpah; and the name of the other was Ruth. And they dwelled there about ten years.
4 And Mahlon and Chilion both died. So, the woman was left without her two sons or her husband.
5 Then, she arose with her daughters-in-law and returned from the country of Moab. For she had heard say in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people and given them bread.
6 So she left the place where she was (and her two daughters-in-law with her) and they went on their way, to return to the land of Judah.
7 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in law, “Go. Each of you return to your own mother’s house. The LORD show favor to you, as you have done with the dead, and with me.
8 “The LORD grant you that you may find rest, either of you, in the house of her husband.” And when she kissed them, they lifted up their voices and wept.
9 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
10 But Naomi said, “Turn back my daughters. For what reason would you go with me? Are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
11 “Turn back my daughters. Go your way. For I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ and if I had a husband this night (indeed, and if I had borne sons) would you wait for them until they were of age? Would you be deterred from the taking of husbands, for them?
12 “No, my daughters. For it grieves me greatly for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
13 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law. But Ruth stayed with her.
14 And Naomi said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law.”
15 And Ruth answered, “Do not urge me to leave you, or to depart from you. For where you go, I will go. And where you dwell, I will dwell. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
16 Where you die, I will die. And there I will be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death separates you and me.”
17 When she saw that she was steadfastly-minded to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
18 So they both went, until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, word spread throughout all the city. And they said, “Is not this Naomi?”
19 And she answered them, “Do not call me Naomi. But, call me ‘Mara’. For the Almighty has given me much bitterness.
20 “I went out full, and the LORD has caused me to return empty. Why do you call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has humbled me, and the Almighty has brought me to adversity?”
21 So, when she came out of the country of Moab, Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess (her daughter-in-law) with her. And they came to Bethlehem, in the beginning of barley harvest.
2 Then Naomi’s husband had a kinsman, one of great power, of the family of Elimelech. And his name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and gather ears of corn after him in whose sight I find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 And she went; and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And it happened that she came upon the portion of the field of Boaz (who was of the family of Elimelech).
4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was appointed over the reapers, “Whose maid is this?”
6 And the servant who was appointed over the reapers answered, and said, “It is the Moabitish maid who came with Naomi out of the country of Moab.”
7 “And she said to us, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued from that time in the morning until now, except for a little time spent in the house.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Hear me, my daughter. Go to no other field to gather, nor go from here. But stay here by my maidens.
9 “Let your eyes be on the field that they reap and do as they do. Have I not charged the servants that they do not touch you? Moreover, when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink of that which the servants have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground and said to him, “How have I found favor in your eyes, that you should know me, seeing I am a stranger?”
11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been told and shown to me, how you have left your father and your mother and the land where you were born and have come to a people which you have not known.
12 “May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from the LORD God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to trust.”
13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord. For you have comforted me and spoken comfortably to your maid, though I am not like one of your maids.”
14 And Boaz said to her, “At mealtime, come here and eat from the food. And dip your morsel in the vinegar.” And she sat beside the reapers. And he gave her parched corn. And she ate and was satisfied. And even left some of it.
15 And when she arose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her gather among the sheaves; and do not rebuke her.
16 “Also, let some of the sheaves fall for her; and let it lie, so that she may gather it up. And do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. And she threshed that which she had gathered. And it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And she took it up and went into the city. And her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Also, she gave to her that which she had saved, after she was full.
19 Then, her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed is he who knew you.” And she showed her mother-in-law for whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name for whom I worked today, is Boaz.”
20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD. For he does not cease to do good to the living and to the dead. The man is near to us, and in our family.”
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, “You shall be with my servants until they have ended all my harvest.”
22 And Naomi answered Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is best, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that they do not meet you in another field.”
23 Then she stayed by the maids of Boaz, to gather until the end of barley harvest, and of wheat harvest, and dwelt with her mother-in-law.
3 Afterward, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you; so that you may prosper?
2 “Now, is Boaz (with whose maids you were) not also our kinsman? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the floor.
3 “Therefore, wash yourself and anoint yourself and put your clothes on and get down to the floor. Do not let the man know of you until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 “And when he falls asleep, mark the place where he lays down; and go and uncover the place of his feet and lay down there. And he shall tell you what you shall do.”
5 And she answered her, “All that you ask of me, I will do.”
6 So she went down to the floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law asked of her.
7 And when Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and cheered his heart, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. And she came, softly, and uncovered the place of his feet and lay down.
8 And at midnight, the man was afraid and woke up. And lo, a woman lay at his feet.
9 Then he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your handmaid. Spread the wing of your garment over your handmaid. For you are the kinsman.”
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. For you have shown more goodness in the end than at the beginning. Inasmuch as you did not follow young men, were they poor or rich.”
11 “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do to you all that you require. For all the city of my people knows that you are a virtuous woman.
12 “And now, it is true that I am your kinsman. Although, there is a kinsman nearer than me.
13 “Stay here tonight. And when morning has come, if he will do the duty of a kinsman to you, well, let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the kinsman’s part, then will I do the duty of a kinsman, as the LORD lives. Sleep until the morning.”
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she arose before dawn. For he said, “Let no man know that a woman came into the floor.”
15 Also, he said, “Bring the cloak that you have on and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley and laid them on her. And she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “What happened, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done to her, and said, “He gave me these six measures of barley. For he said to me, ‘You shall not come empty to your mother-in-law.’”
17 Then she said, “My daughter, sit still until you know how things will go; for the man will not rest until he has finished the matter this same day.”
4 Then Boaz went up to the gate and sat there. And behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by. And he said, “Ho, such one! Come, sit down here.” And he turned and sat down.
2 Then he took ten men from the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” And they sat down.
3 And he said to the kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, wishes to sell a parcel of land which was our brother Elimelech’s.
4 “And I thought to tell you, saying, ‘Buy it’, before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, tell me. For I know that there is no one besides you to redeem it. And I am after you.” Then he answered, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “Whatever day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.”
6 And the kinsman answered, “I cannot redeem it; lest I destroy my own inheritance. I give my right to you, for I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now this was the custom in ancient Israel concerning redeeming, changing and establishing all things: a man took off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor. And this was a sure witness in Israel.
8 Therefore, the kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he took off his shoe.
9 And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought from Naomi all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s.
10 “And moreover, I have bought Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, so that the name of the dead is not forgotten from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”
11 And all the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The LORD make the wife who comes into your house like Rachel and like Leah, who between them built the house of Israel. So that you may do worthily in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem,
12 “and that your house be like the house of Perez (whom Tamar bore to Judah from the seed which the LORD shall give you from this young woman).”
13 So Boaz took Ruth; and she was his wife. And when he went into her, the LORD gave, so that she conceived and bore a son.
14 And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, Who has not left you without a kinsman today. And His name shall be continued in Israel.
15 And this shall restore your life and nourish your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has borne him. And she is better to you than seven sons.”
16 And Naomi took the child and laid it in her lap and became nurse to it.
17 And the women, her neighbors, gave it a name, saying, “There is a child born to Naomi.” And they called his name “Obed”. The same was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 These now are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron,
19 and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21 and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
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