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The Book of Ruth

Ruth 1

Naomi Becomes a Widow
(1 Timothy 5:3–16)

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 Beth-lehem-judah went to dwell 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 Beth-lehem-judah. 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 to themselves wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left by her two sons and her husband.

Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

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 from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that you 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 to her, surely we will return with you to your people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with me? will I bear more sons, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have a husband also to-night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would you wait for them until they should be grown? would you stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth cleaved to her.

15 And she said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her gods: return you after your sister-in-law. 16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following you: for whither you goest, I will go; and where you lodgest, I will lodge: your people will be my people, and your God my God: 17 Where you diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death will part you and me. 18 When she saw that she was steadfastly resolved to go with her, then she left speaking to her.

The Return to Bethlehem

19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they had come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said to them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty: why then call you me Naomi, seeing the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.

 

Ruth 2

WBT

Boaz Meets Ruth

1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I will find grace. And she said to her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her lot was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said to the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless you. 5 Then said Boaz to his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi from the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

8 Then said Boaz to Ruth, Hearest you not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go you after them: have I not charged the young men that they will not touch you? and when you are thirsty go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found grace in your eyes, that you shouldst take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, It has fully been shown to me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband: and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your nativity, and have come to a people which you knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense your work, and a full reward be given you of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to trust. 13 Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for that you have comforted me, and for that you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not like to one of your handmaidens.

14 And Boaz said to her, At meal-time come you hither, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left. 15 And when she had risen to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out that which she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her what she had reserved after she was satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, Where have you gleaned to-day? and where have you labored? blessed be he that took knowledge of you. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of our next kinsmen. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said to me also, You shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that you shouldst go out with his maidens, that they meet you not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean to the end of barley-harvest and of wheat-harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

 

Ruth 3

WBT

Ruth’s Redemption Assured

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, will I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint you, and put your raiment upon you, and go down to the floor: but make not thyself known to the man, until he will have done eating and drinking. 4 And it will be when he lieth down, that you will mark the place where he will lie, and you will go in, and uncover his feet, and lay you down; and he will tell you what you will do. 5 And she said to her, All that you sayest to me I will do.

6 And she went down to the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drank, 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 herself down.

8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be you of the LORD, my daughter: for you have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didst not follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to you all that you requirest: for all the city of my people knows that you are a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman: yet there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it will be in the morning, that if he will perform to you 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 you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to you, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came to the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the vail that you have upon you, 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. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley he gave me; for he said to me, Go not empty to your mother-in-law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you knowest how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he has finished the thing this day.

 

Ruth 4

WBT

Boaz Redeems Ruth

1 Then Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there: and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that has come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4 And I thought to advertise you, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If you wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if you wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it besides you; and I am after you. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day you buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: redeem you my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for confirming all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thyself. So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, You 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. 10 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: you are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem: 12 And let your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the LORD will give you of this young woman.

Boaz Marries Ruth

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he will be to you a restorer of your life, and a nourisher of your old age: for your daughter-in-law, who loveth you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.

16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became its nurse. 17 And the women, her neighbors, 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.

The Line of David
(Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38)

18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez fathered Hezron, 19 And Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 And Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, 22 And Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.