Lyrics
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there
was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went
to sojourn in the country 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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and
continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two
sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one
was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there
about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them;
and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return
from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab
how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, 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 to
her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, 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 said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me?
are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your
husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have
an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an
husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for
them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me
much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against
me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed
her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her
people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where
thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy
God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the
LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and
me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then
she left speaking unto her.
19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to
pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved
about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the
Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty:
why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against
me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law,
with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came
to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. |
|
