{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/erv/ruth/1","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-31T11:21:15.386Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ERV","book":"Ruth","bookSlug":"ruth","chapter":1,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":null,"nextChapter":2,"totalChapters":4,"totalVerses":22},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And 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."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"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 even have an husband to-night, and should also bear sons;"},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister in law."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and 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:"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"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 Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ruth 1 (ERV)","markdown":"[Ruth 1](https://primebible.com/erv/ruth/1)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ERV. https://primebible.com/erv/ruth/1 (accessed 2026-05-31)."}}