Ruth

Book 08        Ruth

08:001:001 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

           Bethlehem, Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and

           his wife, and his two sons.

08:001:002 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.

08:001:003 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her

           two sons.

08:001:004 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.

08:001:005 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman

           was left of her two sons and her husband.

08:001:006 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.

08:001:007 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.

08:001:008 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.

08:001:009 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.

08:001:010 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto

           thy people.

08:001:011 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?

08:001:012 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;

08:001:013 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.

08:001:014 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah

           kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

08:001:015 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.

08:001:016 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:

08:001:017 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.

08:001:018 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her,

           then she left speaking unto her.

08:001:019 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?

08:001:020 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for

           the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

08:001:021 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?

08:001:022 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.

08:002:001 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of

           wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

08:002:002 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the

           field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall

           find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

08:002:003 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the

           reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field

           belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

08:002:004 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the

           reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD

           bless thee.

08:002:005 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers,

           Whose damsel is this?

08:002:006 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and

           said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out

           of the country of Moab:

08:002:007 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the

           reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued

           even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in

           the house.

08:002:008 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go

           not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but

           abide here fast by my maidens:

08:002:009 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou

           after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall

           not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the

           vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

08:002:010 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

           and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that

           thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

08:002:011 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed

           me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the

           death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and

           thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a

           people which thou knewest not heretofore.

08:002:012 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee

           of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to

           trust.

08:002:013 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for

           that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken

           friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of

           thine handmaidens.

08:002:014 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat

           of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat

           beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she

           did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

08:002:015 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young

           men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and

           reproach her not:

08:002:016 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and

           leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

08:002:017 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she

           had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

08:002:018 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in

           law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave

           to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

08:002:019 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned

           to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take

           knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom

           she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought

           to day is Boaz.

08:002:020 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the

           LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to

           the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto

           us, one of our next kinsmen.

08:002:021 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt

           keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my

           harvest.

08:002:022 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my

           daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet

           thee not in any other field.

08:002:023 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end

           of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her

           mother in law.

08:003:001 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall

           I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

08:003:002 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou

           wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the

           threshingfloor.

08:003:003 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment

           upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not

           thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating

           and drinking.

08:003:004 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the

           place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover

           his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou

           shalt do.

08:003:005 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

08:003:006 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all

           that her mother in law bade her.

08:003:007 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he

           went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came

           softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

08:003:008 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and

           turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

08:003:009 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine

           handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for

           thou art a near kinsman.

08:003:010 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for

           thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the

           beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether

           poor or rich.

08:003:011 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that

           thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that

           thou art a virtuous woman.

08:003:012 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there

           is a kinsman nearer than I.

08:003:013 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he

           will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do

           the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a

           kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee,

           as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

08:003:014 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up

           before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be

           known that a woman came into the floor.

08:003:015 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and

           hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of

           barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

08:003:016 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art

           thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done

           to her.

08:003:017 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he

           said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

08:003:018 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the

           matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he

           have finished the thing this day.

08:004:001 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and,

           behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he

           said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned

           aside, and sat down.

08:004:002 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit

           ye down here. And they sat down.

08:004:003 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of

           the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our

           brother Elimelech's:

08:004:004 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the

           inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt

           redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then

           tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it

           beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem

           it.

08:004:005 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of

           Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife

           of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his

           inheritance.

08:004:006 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I

           mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for

           I cannot redeem it.

08:004:007 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning

           redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things;

           a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and

           this was a testimony in Israel.

08:004:008 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he

           drew off his shoe.

08:004:009 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are

           witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was

           Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the

           hand of Naomi.

08:004:010 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I

           purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon

           his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from

           among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are

           witnesses this day.

08:004:011 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders,

           said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come

           into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did

           build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah,

           and be famous in Bethlehem:

08:004:012 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare

           unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this

           young woman.

08:004:013 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in

           unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

08:004:014 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath

           not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be

           famous in Israel.

08:004:015 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a

           nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which

           loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath

           born him.

08:004:016 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became

           nurse unto it.

08:004:017 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is

           a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the

           father of Jesse, the father of David.

08:004:018 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

08:004:019 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

08:004:020 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

08:004:021 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

08:004:022 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.