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 Beyt Lechem Yahudah went to sojourn in the country of Mo'av, he, and his woman, and his two sons.
And the name of the man was Eliymelek, and the name of his woman Na'omiy, and the name of his two sons Machlon and Kilyon, Ephrathiym of Beyt Lechem Yahudah. And they came into the country of Mo'av, and continued there.
And Eliymelek Na'omiy's man died; and she was left, and her two sons.
And they took them women of the women of Mo'av; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other R'oth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
And Machlon and Kilyon died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her man.
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Mo'av: for she had heard in the country of Mo'av how that Yahuah had visited his people in giving them bread.
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 Yahudah.
And Na'omiy said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: Yahuah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Yahuah grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her man. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with you unto your people.
And Na'omiy said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet anymore sons in my womb, that they may be your men?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a man. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have a man also tonight, and should also bear sons;
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having men? nay, my daughters; for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of Yahuah is gone out against me.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but R'oth clave unto her.
And she said, Behold, your sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her elohiym: return you after your sister in law.
And R'oth said, Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for whither you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your Elohiym my Elohiym:
Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahuah do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part you and me.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
So they two went until they came to Beyt Lechem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beyt Lechem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Na'omiy?
And she said unto them, Call me not Na'omiy, call me Mara: for El Shaddai has dealt very bitterly with me.
I went out full, and Yahuah has brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Na'omiy, seeing Yahuah has testified against me, and El Shaddai has afflicted me?
So Na`omiy returned, and R'oth the Mo'aviy, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Mo'av: and they came to Beyt Lechem in the beginning of barley harvest.