Ruth 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 In the days when the Judges were governing, a famine occurred in the country and a certain man fromBethlehem of Judah went-he, his wife and his two sons -- to live in the Plains of Moab.	1 In the days when the Judges were governing, a famine occurred in the country and a certain man fromBethlehem of Judah went-he, his wife and his two sons -- to live in the Plains of Moab.
2 The man was called Elimelech, his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion; they wereEphrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. Going to the Plains of Moab, they settled there.	2 The man was called Elimelech, his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion; they wereEphrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. Going to the Plains of Moab, they settled there.
3 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she and her two sons were left.	3 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she and her two sons were left.
4 These married Moabite women: one was called Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there for aboutten years.	4 These married Moabite women: one was called Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there for aboutten years.
5 Mahlon and Chilion then both died too, and Naomi was thus bereft of her two sons and her husband.	5 Mahlon and Chilion then both died too, and Naomi was thus bereft of her two sons and her husband.
6 She then decided to come back from the Plains of Moab with her daughters-in-law, having heard in thePlains of Moab that God had visited his people and given them food.	6 She then decided to come back from the Plains of Moab with her daughters-in-law, having heard in thePlains of Moab that God had visited his people and given them food.
7 So, with her daughters-in-law, she left the place where she was living and they took the road back toJudah.	7 So, with her daughters-in-law, she left the place where she was living and they took the road back toJudah.
8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Go back, each of you to your mother's house.	8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Go back, each of you to your mother's house.
9 May Yahweh show you faithful love, as you have done to those who have died and to me. Yahweh grantthat you may each find happiness with a husband!' She then kissed them, but they began weeping loudly,	9 May Yahweh show you faithful love, as you have done to those who have died and to me. Yahweh grantthat you may each find happiness with a husband!' She then kissed them, but they began weeping loudly,
10 and said, 'No, we shal go back with you to your people.'	10 and said, 'No, we shal go back with you to your people.'
11 'Go home, daughters,' Naomi replied. 'Why come with me? Have I any more sons in my womb to makehusbands for you?	11 'Go home, daughters,' Naomi replied. 'Why come with me? Have I any more sons in my womb to makehusbands for you?
12 Go home, daughters, go, for I am now too old to marry again. Even if I said, "I stil have a hope: I shalltake a husband this very night and shal bear more sons,"	12 Go home, daughters, go, for I am now too old to marry again. Even if I said, "I stil have a hope: I shalltake a husband this very night and shal bear more sons,"
13 would you be prepared to wait for them until they were grown up? Would you refuse to marry for theirsake? No, daughters, I am bitterly sorry for your sakes that the hand of Yahweh should have been raised againstme.'	13 would you be prepared to wait for them until they were grown up? Would you refuse to marry for theirsake? No, daughters, I am bitterly sorry for your sakes that the hand of Yahweh should have been raised againstme.'
14 They started weeping loudly al over again; Orpah then kissed her mother-in-law and went back to herpeople. But Ruth stayed with her.	14 They started weeping loudly al over again; Orpah then kissed her mother-in-law and went back to herpeople. But Ruth stayed with her.
15 Naomi then said, 'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Go home, too;fol ow your sister-in-law.'	15 Naomi then said, 'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Go home, too;fol ow your sister-in-law.'
16 But Ruth said, 'Do not press me to leave you and to stop going with you, for wherever you go, I shalgo, wherever you live, I shal live. Your people will be my people, and your God wil be my God.	16 But Ruth said, 'Do not press me to leave you and to stop going with you, for wherever you go, I shalgo, wherever you live, I shal live. Your people will be my people, and your God wil be my God.
17 Where you die, I shall die and there I shal be buried. Let Yahweh bring unnameable il s on me andworse il s, too, if anything but death should part me from you!'	17 Where you die, I shall die and there I shal be buried. Let Yahweh bring unnameable il s on me andworse il s, too, if anything but death should part me from you!'
18 Seeing that Ruth was determined to go with her, Naomi said no more.	18 Seeing that Ruth was determined to go with her, Naomi said no more.
19 The two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. Their arrival set the whole town astir, and thewomen said, 'Can this be Naomi?'	19 The two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. Their arrival set the whole town astir, and thewomen said, 'Can this be Naomi?'
20 To this she replied, 'Do not cal me Naomi, cal me Mara, for Shaddai has made my lot bitter.	20 To this she replied, 'Do not cal me Naomi, cal me Mara, for Shaddai has made my lot bitter.
21 I departed ful , and Yahweh has brought me home empty. Why, then, call me Naomi, since Yahwehhas pronounced against me and Shaddai has made me wretched?'	21 I departed ful , and Yahweh has brought me home empty. Why, then, call me Naomi, since Yahwehhas pronounced against me and Shaddai has made me wretched?'
22 This was how Naomi came home with her daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, on returning from thePlains of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.	22 This was how Naomi came home with her daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, on returning from thePlains of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.