Ruth 1:1 Long ago when the land of Israel did not have a king. There were leaders who ruled the land called judges. There was no food for the people in Judah because there was a famine. Elimelek was a man who stayed in the town of Bethlehem in Judah. He, his wife, and his 2 sons moved to the country of Moab.
Ruth 1:2 Elimelek wife was named Naomi, and Elimelek two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were from the Ephrathah family of Bethlehem in Judah. The family traveled to the country of Moab and stayed there.
Ruth 1:3 Later, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, so only Naomi and her 2 sons, Mahlon and Chilion, were left.
Ruth 1:4 Her sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married women from the country of Moab. One wife’s name was Orpah, and the other wife’s name was Ruth. They lived in Moab about 10 years.
Ruth 1:5 Then Mahlon and Kilion also died. So, Naomi was left alone without her husband, Elimelek, or her 2 sons, Mahlon and Chilion.
Ruth 1:6 While Naomi was in the country of Moab, she heard that the Lord had helped his people. Naomi heard how God had given food to his people in Judah. So, Naomi decided to leave the country of Moab and go back home. Her daughters in law, Orpah and Ruth, also decided to go with her.
Ruth 1:7 Naomi and her daughter in law, Orpah and Ruth, left the place where they had been living and started traveling back to the land of Judah.
Ruth 1:8 Then Naomi stopped, and she said to Ruth and Orpah: You must go back to your mothers and to their homes and you must stay there. You have been good to my 2 sons and to me. I pray that God will also be good to you.
Ruth 1:9 Naomi said I also pray that God will give each of you another husband and a new home. Naomi kissed them and Ruth and Orpah started to cry.
Ruth 1:10 Orpah and Ruth said, we want to come with you and go to your family.
Ruth 1:11 But Naomi said, No daughters, go back to your own homes. Why should you go with me? I can’t have any more sons to be your husbands.
Ruth 1:12 Go back home. I am too old to have a new husband. What do you think? If I marry another husband now and I have 2 baby boys, then they must grow up and become men before you can marry them. How long will that take before you can marry them? It will take too long.
Ruth 1:13 Do you want to wait for so many years? I am sure that you can not wait that long, my daughters. This is very sad for you and it is also very sad for me. God has let bad things happen to me.
Ruth 1:14 Ruth and Orpah cried again. Orpah kissed Naomi and she said goodbye, but Ruth did not want to go away from Naomi, and she held on to her.
Ruth 1:15 Naomi said to Ruth: Orpah has gone back to her family. She has gone back to her people and her gods in the land of Moab. You must go back with her.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said to Naomi: Do not tell me to leave you. I want to go with you. I want to stay with you. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.
Ruth 1:17 Ruth said I want to die in the place where you die and then they must dig a grave and bury me there. I will not leave you as long as I live. I make this promise to you. I want God to listen to what I say. He will be my Witness that I will do what I say.
Ruth 1:18 Naomi saw that Ruth did not want to go home and she did not ask Ruth to go back again.
Ruth 1:19 Naomi and Ruth went together to the town of Bethlehem. The people of Bethlehem were stirred when they saw them. The women from the town asked: Is this really Naomi?
Ruth 1:20 Naomi said to them: My name has changed. My name is not Naomi anymore. My name is now Mara, because God Almighty has made my life very sad and bitter.
Ruth 1:21 I went away from here with everything, my husband and my 2 sons, but God now brings me back with nothing. They have died. Why should you call me Naomi , which means Happy? God All-Powerful has given much trouble to me.
Ruth 1:22 So Naomi and her daughter in law Ruth, the Moabite, came back from the country of Moab. These two women came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.