Ruth 1:1; Ruth 1:3; Ruth 1:5-6; Ruth 1:12; Ruth 1:21-22

Ruth 1:1

1 There was a time when Israel didn't have kings to rule over them. But they had leaders to help them. This is a story about some things that happened during that time. There wasn't enough food in the land of Judah. So a man went to live in the country of Moab for a while. He was from Bethlehem in Judah. His wife and two sons went with him.

Ruth 1:3

3 Naomi's husband Elimelech died. So she was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1:5-6

5 Then Mahlon and Kilion also died. So Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 While Naomi was in Moab, she heard that the LORD had helped his people. He had begun to provide food for them again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to go from Moab back to her home.

Ruth 1:12

12 "Go home, my daughters. I'm too old to have another husband. Suppose I thought there was still some hope for me. Suppose I got married to a man tonight. And later I had sons by him.

Ruth 1:21-22

21 I was full when I went away. But the LORD has brought me back empty. So why are you calling me Naomi? The LORD has made me suffer. The Mighty One has brought trouble on me."

22 So Naomi returned from Moab. Ruth, her daughter-in-law from Moab, came with her. They arrived in Bethlehem just when people were beginning to harvest the barley.