The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Ruth 1

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Ketuvim — the Writings

Ruth chapter 1 — part of the Ketuvim — the Writings in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “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…” — the complete text of all 22 verses is below, free to read online.

1AND 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 in Judah went to sojourn in the field of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

2And 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 in Judah. And they came into the field of Moab, and continued there.

3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4And 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 dwelt there about ten years.

5And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.

6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the field of Moab; for she had heard in the field of Moab how that HaShem had remembered His people in giving them bread.

7And 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.

8And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law: 'Go, return each of you to her mother's house; HaShem deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9HaShem 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.

10And they said unto her: 'Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.'

11And Naomi said: 'Turn back, my daughters; why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12Turn back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say: I have hope, should I even have an husband to-night, and also bear sons;

13would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye shut yourselves off for them and have no husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of HaShem is gone forth against me.'

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

15And she said: 'Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god; return thou after thy sister-in-law.'

16And 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 G-d my G-d;in-depth page →

17where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; HaShem do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.'

18And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking unto her.

19So 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 astir concerning them, and the women said: 'Is this Naomi?'

20And she said unto them: 'Call me not Naomi, call me Marah; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21I went out full, and HaShem hath brought me back home empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing HaShem hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?'

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

22 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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