| 001:001
| Now
it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine
in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country
of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. |
| 001:002 | And
the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the
name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And
they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. |
| 001:003 | And
Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. |
| 001:004 | And
they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and
the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. |
| 001:005 | And
Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two
sons and her husband. |
| 001:006 | 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 that the LORD had visited
his people in giving them bread. |
| 001:007 | Wherefore
she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law
with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. |
| 001:008 | And
Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house:
the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
|
| 001:009 | The
LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.
Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. |
| 001:010 | And
they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. |
| 001:011 | And
Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet
any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? |
| 001:012 | Turn
again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I
should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should
also bear sons; |
| 001:013 | Would
ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having
husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the
hand of the LORD is gone out against me. |
| 001:014 | And
they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in
law; but Ruth clave unto her. |
| 001:015 | And
she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto
her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. |
| 001:016 | And
Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after
thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: |
| 001:017 | Where
thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and
more also, if ought but death part thee and me. |
| 001:018 | When
she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking
unto her. |
| 001:019 | So
they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they
were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said,
Is this Naomi? |
| 001:020 | And
she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath
dealt very bitterly with me. |
| 001:021 | I
went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call
ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath
afflicted me? |
| 001:022 | So
Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which
returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning
of barley harvest. |
|
| 002:001
| And
Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family
of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. | | 002:002 | And
Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears
of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her,
Go, my daughter. |
| 002:003 | And
she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap
was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred
of Elimelech. |
| 002:004 | And,
behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with
you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. |
| 002:005 | Then
said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
|
| 002:006 | And
the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish
damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: |
| 002:007 | And
she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves:
so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried
a little in the house. |
| 002:008 | Then
said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another
field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: |
| 002:009 | Let
thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have
I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art
athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
|
| 002:010 | Then
she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why
have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me,
seeing I am a stranger? |
| 002:011 | And
Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou
hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how
thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and
art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. |
| 002:012 | The
LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of
Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. |
| 002:013 | Then
she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted
me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be
not like unto one of thine handmaidens. |
| 002:014 | And
Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and
dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached
her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. |
| 002:015 | And
when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her
glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: |
| 002:016 | And
let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that
she may glean them, and rebuke her not. |
| 002:017 | So
she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and
it was about an ephah of barley. |
| 002:018 | And
she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she
had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after
she was sufficed. |
| 002:019 | And
her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where
wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed
her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with
whom I wrought to day is Boaz. |
| 002:020 | And
Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not
left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her,
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. |
| 002:021 | And
Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young
men, until they have ended all my harvest. |
| 002:022 | And
Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou
go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. |
| 002:023 | So
she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest
and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law. |
|
| 003:001
| Then
Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for
thee, that it may be well with thee? | | 003:002 | And
now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth
barley to night in the threshingfloor. |
| 003:003 | Wash
thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get
thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall
have done eating and drinking. |
| 003:004 | And
it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall
lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he
will tell thee what thou shalt do. |
| 003:005 | And
she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. |
| 003:006 | And
she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law
bade her. |
| 003:007 | And
when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down
at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet,
and laid her down. |
| 003:008 | And
it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and,
behold, a woman lay at his feet. |
| 003:009 | And
he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore
thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. |
| 003:010 | And
he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more
kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst
not young men, whether poor or rich. |
| 003:011 | And
now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for
all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. |
| 003:012 | And
now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer
than I. |
| 003:013 | Tarry
this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee
the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will
not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman
to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. |
| 003:014 | And
she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know
another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
|
| 003:015 | Also
he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she
held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went
into the city. |
| 003:016 | And
when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And
she told her all that the man had done to her. |
| 003:017 | And
she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not
empty unto thy mother in law. |
| 003:018 | Then
said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall:
for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
|
|
| 004:001
| Then
went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman
of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside,
sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. | | 004:002 | And
he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And
they sat down. |
| 004:003 | And
he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab,
selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: |
| 004:004 | And
I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before
the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt
not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it
beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. |
| 004:005 | Then
said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy
it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of
the dead upon his inheritance. |
| 004:006 | And
the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance:
redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. |
| 004:007 | Now
this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning
changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it
to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. |
| 004:008 | Therefore
the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. |
| 004:009 | And
Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day,
that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and
Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. |
| 004:010 | Moreover
Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to
raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead
be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye
are witnesses this day. |
| 004:011 | And
all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses.
The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like
Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah,
and be famous in Bethlehem: |
| 004:012 | And
let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the
seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. |
| 004:013 | So
Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD
gave her conception, and she bare a son. |
| 004:014 | And
the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this
day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. |
| 004:015 | And
he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old
age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than
seven sons, hath born him. |
| 004:016 | And
Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. |
| 004:017 | And
the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi;
and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
|
| 004:018 | Now
these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, |
| 004:019 | And
Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, |
| 004:020 | And
Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, |
| 004:021 | And
Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, |
| 004:022 | And
Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. |