1. Now it came to pass in the days when the judges governed that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the fields 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 name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem of Judah. And they came into the fields of Moab and continued there.
3. And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons,
4. who took wives for themselves of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth; and they dwelt there about ten years.
5. And Mahlon and Chilion both died also; and the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, to return from the fields of Moab, for she had heard in the field of Moab how the Lord had visited his people to give them bread.
7. Therefore she went forth out of the place where she had been and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to thy mother’s house; the Lord deal with you in mercy as ye have dealt with the dead and with me.
9. 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.
10. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11. And Naomi replied, Go back, my daughters; why must ye go with me? Do I have more sons in my womb that they may be your husbands?