THE BOOK OF

RUTH
CHAPTER 1 daughters-in-law, "Go, return
1 In the days when the each of you to her mother's
judges ruled there was a house. May the LORD deal
famine in the land, and a cer- kindly with you, as you have
tain man of Bethlehem in Ju - dealt with the dead and with
dah went to sojourn in the me.
country of Moab, he and his 9 The LORD grant that you
wife and his two sons. may find a home, each of you
2 The name of the man was in the house of her husband!"
Elim'elech and the name of Then she kissed them, and
his wife Na'omi, and the they lifted up their voices and
names of his two sons were wept.
Mahlon and Chil'ion; they 10 And they said to her, "No,
were Eph'rathites from Bethle- we will return with you to your
hem in Judah. They went into people."
the country of Moab and re - 11 But Na'omi said, "Turn
mained there. back, my daughters, why will
3 But Elim'elech, the husband you go with me? Have I yet
of Na'omi, died, and she was sons in my womb that they
left with her two sons. may become your husbands?
4 These took Moabite wives; 12 Turn back, my daughters,
the name of the one was Or- go your way, for I am too old
pah and the name of the other to have a husband. If I should
Ruth. They lived there about say I have hope, even if I
ten years; should have a husband this
5 and both Mahlon and night and should bear sons,
Chil'ion died, so that the 13 would you therefore wait
woman was bereft of her two till they were grown? Would
sons and her husband. you therefore refrain from
6 Then she started with her marrying? No, my daughters,
daughters-in-law to return for it is exceedingly bitter to
from the country of Moab, for me for your sake that the
she had heard in the country hand of the LORD has gone
of Moab that the LORD had forth against me."
visited his people and given 14 Then they lifted up their
them food. voices and wept again; and
7 So she set out from the Orpah kissed her mother-in-
place where she was, with her law, but Ruth clung to her.
two daughters-in-law, and 15 And she said, "See, your
they went on the way to re - sister-in-law has gone back to
turn to the land of Judah. her people and to her gods;
8 But Na'omi said to her two return after your sister-in-

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law." Bo'az.
16 But Ruth said, "Entreat me 2 And Ruth the Moabitess
not to leave you or to return said to Na'omi, "Let me go to
from following you; for where the field, and glean among
you go I will go, and where the ears of grain after him in
you lodge I will lodge; your whose sight I shall find favor."
people shall be my people, And she said to her, "Go, my
and your God my God; daughter."
17 where you die I will die, 3 So she set forth and went
and there will I be buried. May and gleaned in the field after
the LORD do so to me and the reapers; and she hap-
more also if even death parts pened to come to the part of
me from you." the field belonging to Bo'az,
18 And when Na'omi saw that who was of the family of
she was determined to go with Elim'elech.
her, she said no more. 4 And behold, Bo'az came
19 So the two of them went from Bethlehem; and he said
on until they came to Bethle - to the reapers, "The LORD be
hem. And when they came to with you!" And they answered,
Bethlehem, the whole town "The LORD bless you."
was stirred because of them; 5 Then Bo'az said to his ser -
and the women said, "Is this vant who was in charge of the
Na'omi?" reapers, "Whose maiden is
20 She said to them, "Do not this?"
call me Na'omi, call me Mara, 6 And the servant who was in
for the Almighty has dealt charge of the reapers an -
very bitterly with me. swered, "It is the Moabite
21 I went away full, and the maiden, who came back with
LORD has brought me back Na'omi from the country of
empty. Why call me Na'omi, Moab.
when the LORD has afflicted 7 She said, `Pray, let me
me and the Almighty has glean and gather among the
brought calamity upon me?" sheaves after the reapers.' So
22 So Na'omi returned, and she came, and she has contin -
Ruth the Moabitess her daugh - ued from early morning until
ter-in-law with her, who re- now, without resting even for
turned from the country of a moment."
Moab. And they came to Beth - 8 Then Bo'az said to Ruth,
lehem at the beginning of bar - "Now, listen, my daughter, do
ley harvest. not go to glean in another
field or leave this one, but
CHAPTER 2 keep close to my maidens.
1 Now Na'omi had a kinsman 9 Let your eyes be upon the
of her husband's, a man of field which they are reaping,
wealth, of the family of and go after them. Have I not
Elim'elech, whose name was charged the young men not to

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molest you? And when you are from the bundles for her, and
thirsty, go to the vessels and leave it for her to glean, and
drink what the young men do not rebuke her."
have drawn." 17 So she gleaned in the field
10 Then she fell on her face, until evening; then she beat
bowing to the ground, and out what she had gleaned,
said to him, "Why have I found and it was about an ephah of
favor in your eyes, that you barley.
should take notice of me, 18 And she took it up and
when I am a foreigner?" went into the city; she showed
11 But Bo'az answered her, her mother-in-law what she
"All that you have done for had gleaned, and she also
your mother-in-law since the brought out and gave her
death of your husband has what food she had left over af-
been fully told me, and how ter being satisfied.
you left your father and 19 And her mother-in-law
mother and your native land said to her, "Where did you
and came to a people that you glean today? And where have
did not know before. you worked? Blessed be the
12 The LORD recompense you man who took notice of you."
for what you have done, and a So she told her mother-in-law
full reward be given you by with whom she had worked,
the LORD, the God of Israel, and said, "The man's name
under whose wings you have with whom I worked today is
come to take refuge!" Bo'az."
13 Then she said, "You are
most gracious to me, my lord, 20 And Na'omi said to her
for you have comforted me daughter-in-law, "Blessed be
and spoken kindly to your he by the LORD, whose kind -
maidservant, though I am not ness has not forsaken the liv-
one of your maidservants." ing or the dead!" Na'omi also
14 And at mealtime Bo'az said to her, "The man is a rel-
said to her, "Come here, and ative of ours, one of our near-
eat some bread, and dip your est kin."
morsel in the wine." So she 21 And Ruth the Moabitess
sat beside the reapers, and he said, "Besides, he said to me,
passed to her parched grain; `You shall keep close by my
and she ate until she was sat - servants, till they have fin -
isfied, and she had some left ished all my harvest.'"
over. 22 And Na'omi said to Ruth,
15 When she rose to glean, her daughter-in-law, "It is
Bo'az instructed his young well, my daughter, that you go
men, saying, "Let her glean out with his maidens, lest in
even among the sheaves, and another field you be mo -
do not reproach her. lested."
16 And also pull out some 23 So she kept close to the

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 RUTH

maidens of Bo'az, gleaning And she answered, "I am Ruth,

until the end of the barley and your maidservant; spread your
wheat harvests; and she lived skirt over your maidservant,
with her mother-in-law. for you are next of kin."
10 And he said, "May you be
CHAPTER 3 blessed by the LORD, my
1 Then Na'omi her mother-in- daughter; you have made this
law said to her, "My daughter, last kindness greater than the
should I not seek a home for first, in that you have not
you, that it may be well with gone after young men,
you? whether poor or rich.
2 Now is not Bo'az our kins - 11 And now, my daughter, do
man, with whose maidens you not fear, I will do for you all
were? See, he is winnowing that you ask, for all my fellow
barley tonight at the threshing townsmen know that you are a
floor. woman of worth.
3 Wash therefore and anoint 12 And now it is true that I
yourself, and put on your best am a near kinsman, yet there
clothes and go down to the is a kinsman nearer than I.
threshing floor; but do not 13 Remain this night, and in
make yourself known to the the morning, if he will do the
man until he has finished eat - part of the next of kin for you,
ing and drinking. well; let him do it; but if he is
4 But when he lies down, ob - not willing to do the part of
serve the place where he lies; the next of kin for you, then,
then, go and uncover his feet as the LORD lives, I will do the
and lie down; and he will tell part of the next of kin for you.
you what to do." Lie down until the morning."
5 And she replied, "All that 14 So she lay at his feet until
you say I will do." the morning, but arose before
6 So she went down to the one could recognize another;
threshing floor and did just as and he said, "Let it not be
her mother-in-law had told known that the woman came
her. to the threshing floor."
7 And when Bo'az had eaten 15 And he said, "Bring the
and drunk, and his heart was mantle you are wearing and
merry, he went to lie down at hold it out." So she held it,
the end of the heap of grain. and he measured out six mea-
Then she came softly, and un - sures of barley, and laid it
covered his feet, and lay upon her; then she went into
down. the city.
8 At midnight the man was 16 And when she came to her
startled, and turned over, and mother-in-law, she said, "How
behold, a woman lay at his did you fare, my daughter?"
feet! Then she told her all that the
9 He said, "Who are you?" man had done for her,

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 RUTH

17 saying, "These six mea - dead to his inheritance."

sures of barley he gave to me, 6 Then the next of kin said, "I
for he said, `You must not go cannot redeem it for myself,
back empty-handed to your lest I impair my own inheri -
mother-in-law.'" tance. Take my right of re -
18 She replied, "Wait, my demption yourself, for I can -
daughter, until you learn how not redeem it."
the matter turns out, for the 7 Now this was the custom in
man will not rest, but will set- former times in Israel con-
tle the matter today." cerning redeeming and ex-
changing: to confirm a trans-
CHAPTER 4 action, the one drew off his
1 And Bo'az went up to the sandal and gave it to the
gate and sat down there; and other, and this was the man-
behold, the next of kin, of ner of attesting in Israel.
whom Bo'az had spoken, came 8 So when the next of kin
by. So Bo'az said, "Turn aside, said to Bo'az, "Buy it for your -
friend; sit down here"; and he self," he drew off his sandal.
turned aside and sat down. 9 Then Bo'az said to the el -
2 And he took ten men of the ders and all the people, "You
elders of the city, and said, are witnesses this day that I
"Sit down here"; so they sat have bought from the hand of
down. Na'omi all that belonged to
3 Then he said to the next of Elim'elech and all that be -
kin, "Na'omi, who has come longed to Chil'ion and to
back from the country of Mahlon.
Moab, is selling the parcel of 10 Also Ruth the Moabitess,
land which belonged to our the widow of Mahlon, I have
kinsman Elim'elech. bought to be my wife, to per-
4 So I thought I would tell petuate the name of the dead
you of it, and say, Buy it in in his inheritance, that the
the presence of those sitting name of the dead may not be
here, and in the presence of cut off from among his
the elders of my people. If you brethren and from the gate of
will redeem it, redeem it; but his native place; you are wit -
if you will not, tell me, that I nesses this day."
may know, for there is no one 11 Then all the people who
besides you to redeem it, and were at the gate, and the el -
I come after you." And he ders, said, "We are witnesses.
said, "I will redeem it." May the LORD make the
5 Then Bo'az said, "The day woman, who is coming into
you buy the field from the your house, like Rachel and
hand of Na'omi, you are also Leah, who together built up
buying Ruth the Moabitess, the house of Israel. May you
the widow of the dead, in or - prosper in Eph'rathah and be
der to restore the name of the renowned in Bethlehem;

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12 and may your house be

like the house of Perez, whom
Tamar bore to Judah, because
of the children that the LORD
will give you by this young
woman."
13 So Bo'az took Ruth and
she became his wife; and he
went in to her, and the LORD
gave her conception, and she
bore a son.
14 Then the women said to
Na'omi, "Blessed be the LORD,
who has not left you this day
without next of kin; and may
his name be renowned in Is-
rael!
15 He shall be to you a re -
storer of life and a nourisher
of your old age; for your
daughter-in-law who loves
you, who is more to you than
seven sons, has borne him."
16 Then Na'omi took the
child and laid him in her bo-
som, and became his nurse.
17 And the women of the
neighborhood gave him a
name, saying, "A son has been
born to Na'omi." They named
him Obed; he was the father
of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the descen -
dants of Perez: Perez was the
father of Hezron,
19 Hezron of Ram, Ram of
Ammin'adab,
20 Ammin'adab of Nahshon,
Nah-shon of Salmon,
21 Salmon of Bo'az, Bo'az of
Obed,
22 Obed of Jesse, and Jesse
of David.