I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Famine Drives a Family to Moab
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
1In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live for a while in the country of Moab, along with 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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
2The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They arrived in the country of Moab and stayed there.
3And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with 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 dwelled there about ten years.
4The sons married women from Moab; one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years.
5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
5Then Mahlon and Chilion both died too, and the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.
Naomi Sets Out for Home
6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
6So she got ready to leave the country of Moab with her daughters-in-law and go back home, because while she was in Moab she had heard that the LORD had come to help his people by giving them food.
7Wherefore 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.
7She set out from the place where she had been living, with her two daughters-in-law beside her, and they started down the road that led back to the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
8Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go on, each of you, back to your mother's home. May the LORD be as kind to you as you have been to the dead and to me.
9The LORD 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.
9May the LORD give each of you a settled home with a husband of your own." Then she kissed them, and they broke into loud weeping.
10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
10They said to her, "No, we will go back with you to your people."
Naomi Argues With Her Daughters
11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
11But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Do I still have sons inside me who could grow up to be your husbands?
12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
12Turn back, my daughters, and go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I said I had hope, even if I had a husband tonight and gave birth to sons,
13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
13would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you keep yourselves from marrying for their sake? No, my daughters. It is far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has come out against me."
Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go
14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
14Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on to her.
15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
15Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Go back with your sister-in-law."
16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or 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 God my God:
16But Ruth said, "Do not beg me to leave you or to turn back from following you. Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and worse, if anything but death separates you and me."
18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to talk her out of it.
Call Me Mara
19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
19So the two of them walked on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred up over them, and the women said, "Can this be Naomi?"
20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
20She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.
21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
21I went away full, and the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has spoken against me and the Almighty has brought hardship on me?"
22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
22So Naomi came back, and Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, came with her from the country of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning.
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Ruth Goes Out to Glean
1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
1Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a man of great standing and wealth from the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
2Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go out to the fields and pick up leftover grain behind anyone who will let me." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter."
3And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
3So she went out and began gathering in a field behind the harvesters, and as it happened, she ended up in the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was from Elimelech's family.
Boaz Notices the Stranger
4And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
4Just then Boaz came out from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you." They answered him, "The LORD bless you."
5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
5Boaz asked the servant in charge of the harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?"
6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
6The servant in charge of the harvesters answered, "She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
7She asked, 'Please let me pick up and gather grain behind the harvesters among the bundles.' So she came, and she has kept at it from morning until now, except for a short rest in the shelter."
Under His Wings
8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
8Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen to me, my daughter. Do not go to gather in any other field, and do not leave this one. Stay right here with my young women.
9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
9Keep your eyes on the field they are harvesting and follow along behind them. I have ordered the young men not to lay a hand on you. And when you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink what the young men have drawn."
10Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
10At that she bowed down with her face to the ground and said to him, "Why have you been so kind to me, taking notice of me, when I am a foreigner?"
11And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
11Boaz answered her, "I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died: how you left your father and mother and the land where you were born and came to a people you did not know before.
12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
12May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be fully rewarded by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take shelter."
13Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
13She said, "I hope I keep pleasing you, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not even one of your servant girls."
Grain Left on Purpose
14And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
14At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread, and dip your piece in the sour wine." So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he handed her roasted grain. She ate until she was full and had some left over.
15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
15When she got up to gather again, Boaz gave orders to his young men: "Let her gather even among the bundles themselves, and do not embarrass her.
16And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
16Pull out some stalks from the bundles on purpose and leave them for her to pick up, and do not scold her."
17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
17So Ruth gathered in the field until evening. Then she threshed what she had gathered, and it came to about an ephah of barley.
Naomi Hears the Name
18And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
18She carried it into town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out what she had saved after eating her fill and gave it to her.
19And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
19Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you gather today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law whose field she had worked in. "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said.
20And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
20Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May the LORD bless him! He has not stopped showing kindness to the living or to the dead." Then Naomi added, "That man is a close relative of ours, one of our family redeemers."
21And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
21Ruth the Moabite said, "He even told me, 'Stay close to my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'"
22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
22Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, for you to go out with his young women, so that no one bothers you in some other field."
23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
23So Ruth stayed close to the young women of Boaz to gather grain until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were both finished, and she lived with her mother-in-law.
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Naomi's Plan
1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shouldn't I find a secure home for you, where things will go well for you?
2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
2Now, isn't Boaz our relative, the one whose young women you worked with? Listen, tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.
3Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
3So wash yourself, put on some perfume, dress in your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
4And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
4When he lies down, notice the spot where he is lying. Then go in, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do."
5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
5Ruth said to her, "I will do everything you have told me."
At Midnight on the Threshing Floor
6And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had told her to do.
7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
7When Boaz had eaten and drunk and was feeling cheerful, he went to lie down at the far end of the pile of grain. Then Ruth crept over quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
8In the middle of the night the man was startled and turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet.
9And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
9"Who are you?" he asked. She answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the corner of your garment over your servant, because you are a family redeemer."
A Nearer Kinsman
10And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
10He said, "May the LORD bless you, my daughter. This kindness you are showing now is even greater than what you showed before, because you have not run after the young men, whether poor or rich.
11And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
11So now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you everything you ask, for everyone in the town knows that you are a woman of real character.
12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
12It is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer who is a closer relative than I am.
13Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
13Stay here tonight. In the morning, if he is willing to do the redeemer's duty for you, fine; let him do it. But if he is not willing to do it for you, then as surely as the LORD lives, I will do it myself. Lie down until morning."
Six Measures of Barley
14And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
14So she lay at his feet until morning, then got up before it was light enough for one person to recognize another. Boaz said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor."
15Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
15He also said, "Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she held it out, he measured six measures of barley into it and helped her lift it onto her shoulders. Then she went into town.
16And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
16When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.
17And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
17She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley, because he told me, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"
18Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
18Then Naomi said, "Wait quietly, my daughter, until you find out how this turns out, for the man will not rest until he has settled the matter today."
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Offer at the Gate
1Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
1Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there. Just then the family redeemer Boaz had mentioned came walking by, and Boaz said to him, "Hey, friend, come over here and sit down." So he came over and sat down.
2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
2Boaz then took ten of the town's elders and said, "Sit down here." And they sat down.
3And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
3He said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
4I thought I should bring it to your attention and tell you to buy it in front of those sitting here and in front of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, then redeem it. But if you will not, tell me so I know, because no one has the right to redeem it before you, and I come after you." The man said, "I will redeem it."
5Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
5Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man's widow, so that the dead man's name will carry on with his property."
6And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
6The redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it for myself, or I would damage my own inheritance. You take my right to redeem it, because I cannot do it."
The Sandal and the Witnesses
7Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
7Now in earlier times in Israel, this was the custom for settling a redemption or an exchange of property: to make the deal binding, a man took off his sandal and handed it to the other party. That was how an agreement was confirmed in Israel.
8Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
8So the redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself," and he took off his sandal.
9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
9Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech and everything that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
10And I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, to be my wife, so that the dead man's name will carry on with his property and will not disappear from among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today."
The Blessing of the Elders
11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
11All the people at the gate and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, the two who together built up the house of Israel. May you do well in Ephrathah and become well known in Bethlehem.
12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
12And through the children the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."
A Son Born to Naomi
13So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
14The women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you today without a family redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.
15And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
15He will bring your life back to you and take care of you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
16And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
16Naomi took the child, held him close in her lap, and cared for him.
17And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
17The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
From Perez to David
18Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
18This is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
19Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,
20And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
21And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
21Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
22And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
22Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.