1
Now it came to pass in the days when the judgesruled,[a] 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 twosons.
2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wifeNaomi, and the name of his twosonsMahlon and Chilion,Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah*. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3
And ElimelechNaomi'shusbanddied; and she was left, and her twosons.
4
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the otherRuth: and they dwelled there about tenyears.
5
And Mahlon and Chiliondied also both of them; and the woman was left of her twosons 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.