Ruth.
Ruth KWL.
Ruth 1.
1 In the time of the Judges there’d been a recession.
A man from Bethlehem, Judah, had left to stay in the country of Moab—he, his wife, and two sons.
2 The man’s name was Elimelékh. His wife’s name was Naómi.
His sons’ names were Makhlón and Khilyón.
They were of the tribe of Ephraim, from Bethlehem, Judah.
They went to the country of Moab and lived there.
3 Naómi’s husband Elimelékh had died; she and her two sons had stayed.
4 They took Moabi wives: The first named Orpá, the second named Ruth.
They lived there about 10 years 5 and both Makhlón and Khilyón also died,
leaving only their mother without children nor husband.
6 In Mo’av, hearing the LORD had taken charge of his people and given them food,
Naómi took her daughters-in-law and returned from Moab.
7 Naómi left where she was staying with her daughters-in-law.
They walked on the road to return to the land of Judah.
8 Naómi told her daughters-in-law, “Go. Return, each of you, to your mother’s house.
May the LORD be gracious to you like you’ve been with the dead men, and with me.
9 May the LORD bless you so you each go out peacefully to a new husband’s house.”
Naómi kissed them, and they raised their voices and wept.
10 They told Naómi, “We’re returning to your people with you.”
11 Naómi said, “Return, my daughters. Why are you walking with me?
Are there sons in my belly? Will they be your husbands?
12 Return, my daughters. Walk. For I’m too old to marry.
Say there’s hope, and I meet a man tonight, and bear sons.
13 You’ll lay up hope for when they grow up? You’ll abstain from being with a man till then?
No, my daughters. My life is far more bitter than yours.
The LORD’s hand has left me.”
14 They lifted their voices and wept again, and Orpá kissed her mother-in-law farewell.
Ruth clung to her, 15 so Naómi said, “Look, your sister-in-law returned to her people and god.
Go after her.”
16 Ruth said, “Stop begging me to leave you and return:
Where you go, I go. Where you stay, I stay. Your people are my people. Your God is my God.
17 Where you die, I die, and will be buried there.
I swear to the LORD only death will separate us.”
18 Naómi, seeing Ruth was determined to go with her, stopped begging her.
19 The two of them walked till they came to Bethlehem.
Upon coming to Bethlehem, the city gossiped about them, saying, “Is this Naómi?”
20 Naómi told them, “Don’t call me na’ómi/‘pleasant’; call me mará/‘bitter.’
Because the Almighty has made me mighty bitter.
21 I left full, and the LORD brought me back empty.
So why are you calling me Naómi?
The LORD answered me; the Almighty’s done evil to me.”
22 Naomi returned to Bethlehem from the country of Moab
with Ruth, her Moabi daughter-in-law, at the beginning of the barley harvest.