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N the  days  when  the  Judges  ruled  in  Israel  there  was  a famine in the  land. And a certain  man  of  Bethlehem,  with  his  wife and two  sons,  went  to  sojourn  in  the  land  of  Moab. His name was Elimelech  and  his  wife’s  Noemi. After having  lived  many years in  Moab  Elimelech  died,  and  his  two  sons,  who  had  taken wives from  amongst  the  daughters  of  Moab,  also  died  ten  years after their  father’s  death.

Noemi being  now  left  alone,  and  full  of  sorrow  for  the  loss of her  husband  and  two  sons,  arose  to  return  to  her  own  country. Her two  daughters-in-law,  Orpha  and  Ruth,  went  forth  with  her. As they  journeyed  on  towards  the  land  of  Juda,  Noemi  spoke  to Orpha  and  Ruth: “Go  ye  home  to  your  mothers. The Lord  deal mercifully with  you  as  you  have  dealt  with  the  dead  and  me." And  she  kissed  them.  But  they  lifted  up  their  voice  and  wept, and  said:  “We  will  go  on  with  thee  to  thy  people.”

Noemi answered: “Do  not  so,  my  daughters;  for  I am  grieved the more  for  your  distress;  and  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  gone out against  me.”  Then  Orpha  kissed  her  mother-in-law  and  returned. Ruth, however,  would  not  depart. Noemi spoke  again: “Behold, thy  kinswoman  is  returned  to  her  people;  go  thou with her.”

Thereupon Ruth  replied:  “Be  not  against  me,  for  whithersoever thou  shalt  go,  I will  go,  and  where  thou  shalt  dwell,  I also will dwell. Thy people  shall  be  my  people  and  thy  God  my God. The land  that  shall  receive  thee  dying,  in  the  same  will