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1. Long ago, during the time the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man named Elimelech left the town of Bethlehem in Judah. He, his wife, and his two sons moved to the country of Moab.
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1. Now it came to pass H1961 in the days H3117 when the judges H8199 ruled H8199 , that there was H1961 a famine H7458 in the land H776 . And a certain man H376 of Bethlehem H4480 H1035 H3063 -judah went H1980 to sojourn H1481 in the country H7704 of Moab H4124 , he H1931 , and his wife H802 , and his two H8147 sons H1121 .
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2. The man's wife was named Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Kilion. They were from the Ephrathah family of Bethlehem, Judah. The family traveled to the hill country of Moab and stayed there.
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2. And the name H8034 of the man H376 was Elimelech H458 , and the name H8034 of his wife H802 Naomi H5281 , and the name H8034 of his two H8147 sons H1121 Mahlon H4248 and Chilion H3630 , Ephrathites H673 of Bethlehem H4480 H1035 H3063 -judah . And they came H935 into the country H7704 of Moab H4124 , and continued H1961 there H8033 .
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3. Later, Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died, so only Naomi and her two sons were left.
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3. And Elimelech H458 Naomi H5281 's husband H376 died H4191 ; and she H1931 was left H7604 , and her two H8147 sons H1121 .
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4. Her sons married women from the country of Moab. One wife's name was Orpah, and the other wife's name was Ruth. They lived in Moab about ten years,
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4. And they took H5375 them wives H802 of the women of Moab H4125 ; the name H8034 of the one H259 was Orpah H6204 , and the name H8034 of the other H8145 Ruth H7327 : and they dwelled H3427 there H8033 about ten H6235 years H8141 .
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5. and Mahlon and Kilion also died. So Naomi was left alone without her husband or her two sons.
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5. And Mahlon H4248 and Chilion H3630 died H4191 also H1571 both H8147 of them ; and the woman H802 was left H7604 of her two sons H4480 H8147 H3206 and her husband H4480 H376 .
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6. While Naomi was in the country of Moab, she heard that the Lord had helped his people. He had given food to his people in Judah. So Naomi decided to leave the country of Moab and go back home. Her daughters-in-law also decided to go with her.
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6. Then she H1931 arose H6965 with her daughters H3618 -in-law , that she might return H7725 from the country H4480 H7704 of Moab H4124 : for H3588 she had heard H8085 in the country H7704 of Moab H4124 how that H3588 the LORD H3068 had visited H6485 H853 his people H5971 in giving H5414 them bread H3899 .
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7. They left the place where they had been living and started walking back to the land of Judah.
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7. Wherefore she went forth H3318 out of H4480 the place H4725 where H834 H8033 she was H1961 , and her two H8147 daughters H3618 -in-law with her H5973 ; and they went H1980 on the way H1870 to return H7725 unto H413 the land H776 of Judah H3063 .
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8. Then Naomi told her daughters-in-law, "Each of you should go back home to your mother. You have been very kind to me and my sons who are now dead. So I pray the Lord will be just as kind to you.
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8. And Naomi H5281 said H559 unto her two H8147 daughters H3618 -in-law, Go H1980 , return H7725 each H802 to her mother H517 's house H1004 : the LORD H3068 deal H6213 kindly H2617 with H5973 you, as H834 ye have dealt H6213 with H5973 the dead H4191 , and with H5973 me.
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9. I pray that he helps each of you find a husband and a good home." Naomi kissed her daughters-in-law, and they all started crying.
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9. The LORD H3068 grant H5414 you that ye may find H4672 rest H4496 , each H802 of you in the house H1004 of her husband H376 . Then she kissed H5401 them ; and they lifted up H5375 their voice H6963 , and wept H1058 .
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10. Then the daughters said, "But we want to come with you and go to your family."
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10. And they said H559 unto her, Surely H3588 we will return H7725 with H854 thee unto thy people H5971 .
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11. But Naomi said, "No, daughters, go back to your own homes. Why should you go with me? I don't have any more sons in me to be your husbands.
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11. And Naomi H5281 said H559 , Turn again H7725 , my daughters H1323 : why H4100 will ye go H1980 with H5973 me? are there yet H5750 any more sons H1121 in my womb H4578 , that they may be H1961 your husbands H376 ?
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12. Go back home. I am too old to have a new husband. Even if I thought I could be married again, I could not help you. If I became pregnant tonight and had two sons,
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12. Turn again H7725 , my daughters H1323 , go H1980 your way ; for H3588 I am too old H2204 to have H4480 H1961 a husband H376 . If H3588 I should say H559 , I have H3426 hope H8615 , if I should have H1961 a husband H376 also H1571 tonight H3915 , and should also H1571 bear H3205 sons H1121 ;
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13. you would have to wait until they grew to become men before you could marry them. I cannot make you wait that long for husbands. That would make me very sad. And I am already sad enough�the Lord has done many things to me!"
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13. Would ye tarry H7663 for them H2004 till H5704 H834 they were grown H1431 ? would ye stay H5702 for them H2004 from having H1961 husbands H376 ? nay H408 , my daughters H1323 ; for H3588 it grieveth H4843 me much H3966 for H4480 your sakes that H3588 the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 is gone out H3318 against me.
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14. So again they cried very much. Then Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, but Ruth hugged her and stayed.
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14. And they lifted up H5375 their voice H6963 , and wept H1058 again H5750 : and Orpah H6204 kissed H5401 her mother H2545 -in-law ; but Ruth H7327 cleaved H1692 unto her.
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15. Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her own people and her own gods. You should do the same."
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15. And she said H559 , Behold H2009 , thy sister H2994 -in-law is gone back H7725 unto H413 her people H5971 , and unto H413 her gods H430 : return H7725 thou after H310 thy sister H2994 -in-law.
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16. But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you! Don't force me to go back to my own people. Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you sleep, I will sleep. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.
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16. And Ruth H7327 said H559 , Entreat H6293 me not H408 to leave H5800 thee, or to return H7725 from following after H4480 H310 thee: for H3588 whither H413 H834 thou goest H1980 , I will go H1980 ; and where H834 thou lodgest H3885 , I will lodge H3885 : thy people H5971 shall be my people H5971 , and thy God H430 my God H430 :
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17. Where you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. I ask the Lord to punish me if I don't keep this promise: Only death will separate us."
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17. Where H834 thou diest H4191 , will I die H4191 , and there H8033 will I be buried H6912 : the LORD H3068 do H6213 so H3541 to me , and more H3254 also H3541 , if aught but H3588 death H4194 part H6504 thee H996 and me H996 .
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18. Naomi saw that Ruth wanted very much to go with her. So Naomi stopped arguing with her.
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18. When she saw H7200 that H3588 she H1931 was steadfastly minded H553 to go H1980 with H854 her , then she left H2308 speaking H1696 unto H413 her.
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19. Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to the town of Bethlehem. When the two women entered Bethlehem, all the people were very excited. They said, "Is this Naomi?"
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19. So they two H8147 went H1980 until H5704 they came H935 to Bethlehem H1035 . And it came to pass H1961 , when they were come H935 to Bethlehem H1035 , that all H3605 the city H5892 was moved H1949 about H5921 them , and they said H559 , Is this H2063 Naomi H5281 ?
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20. But Naomi told the people, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Marah. Use this name because God All-Powerful has made my life very sad.
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20. And she said H559 unto H413 them, Call H7121 me not H408 Naomi H5281 , call H7121 me Mara H4755 : for H3588 the Almighty H7706 hath dealt very bitterly H3966 H4843 with me.
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21. I had everything I wanted when I left, but now, the Lord brings me home with nothing. The Lord has made me sad, so why should you call me 'Happy'? God All-Powerful has given much trouble to me."
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21. I H589 went out H1980 full H4392 , and the LORD H3068 hath brought me home again H7725 empty H7387 : why H4100 then call H7121 ye me Naomi H5281 , seeing the LORD H3068 hath testified H6030 against me , and the Almighty H7706 hath afflicted H7489 me?
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22. So Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabite, came back from the hill country of Moab. These two women came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
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22. So Naomi H5281 returned H7725 , and Ruth H7327 the Moabitess H4125 , her daughter H3618 -in-law , with her H5973 , which returned H7725 out of the country H4480 H7704 of Moab H4124 : and they H1992 came H935 to Bethlehem H1035 in the beginning H8462 of barley H8184 harvest H7105 .
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