¹ During the time of the judges a famine swept the land of Israal. A certain man who was an Ehrapthite from the town of Bethlehem in Judah took his wife and two sons and moved away to Moab where they stayed. ² The man was named Elimelek, and his wife was named Naomi. His sons names were Mahlon and Kilion. They arrived in Moab and lived there. ³ Then Elimilek died in Moab and Naomi was left alone with her two sons. ⁴ Her boys married Moabite women; one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there for about ten years. ⁵ Then both Mahlon and Kilion died. So Naomi was left alone without her husband or her two sons. ⁶ So Naomi heard that Yahweh God had helped her land by giving her people food again ⁷ and she decided to take her daughters-in-law and head back home. So they started down the road toward to return to Judah. ⁸ Then Naomi said to her daughters in law, "You should return to your own home and family. May Yahweh show kindness to you as you have been kind to me and to the dead; ⁹ May the Lord give you rest and allow you to marry other husbands." And she kissed them and they cried and ¹⁰ said, "No, Please don't make us return. We will go with you to your people. ^{11 12 13} But Naomi argued with them saying, "No! Go back. For what hope do you having coming with me. Even if I were to say, I hope to have a husband this very night' and I were to give birth to two more boys would you wait for them to grow up? Of course not. So turn back. And understand that this bitterness that Yahweh has dealt to me is extremely bitter for you too. ^{14 15} So both of her daughters in law cried and hugged her, but Ruth clung to her as Orpah turned to go back. So Naomi said to Ruth, "Look, see that your sister in law is returning to her people. You go to, back to your people and back to your gods." ^{16 17 18} But Ruth refused saying, "Do not compel me to go back. I will go with you wherever you go and your people will be my people; your God will be my God. Where you die, that's where I'm goign to die too and where I will be buried. May Yahweh punish me severely if anthing but death seperates us." Then Naomi realized she could not dissuade Ruth so she quit arguing with her and let her come along. ^{19 20 21} They traveled together until the arrived in Bethleham. The whole town was so excited when they arrived. The women said, "Can it really be Naomi?" But Naomi responded, "Don't call me 'Naomi' any longer. Call me 'Mara', for Yahweh has dealth bitterly with me. When I left I was full, I had plenty; now I am coming home barren, empty! He has taken away what I had, for his hand has turned against me." ²² So Naomi and Ruth, the Moabitess came to Judah from Moab and settled there. They arrived right as the barley harvest began.