Book of Ruth
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Verse by verse, account of the book of Ruth.

Ruth: chapter 1

¹In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in Bethlehem. And a certain family, a husband, wife and two sons went to the country of Moab to dwell. ²The name of the man was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi and his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. ³Soon afterwards Elimelech, the husband died and Naomi was left with her two sons. ⁴The two sons took wives, Orpah and Ruth and they dwelt in the land for about ten years, ⁵After which the sons also died. Leaving Naomi having survived, her two sons and her husband.

⁶Then Naomi set out to return to her home land, for she heard that the LORD had given bread to His people in Bethlehem. ⁷However her two daughter-in-laws began to follow Naomi to the land of Bethlehem. ⁸Naomi told her two daughters-in-laws to each return to their mother's house. And that the LORD would deal kindly with them, for they had dealt kindly with the dead and with me. ⁹May He grant you rest in the house of your husbands. She then kissed them and they both wept. ¹⁰Saying to her, we will return with you to your people. ^11-13But Naomi told them to turn back, asking them why they wished to go with her, saying that she could not provide husbands for them. For even if she did have two sons by a husband tonight, would they wait for them until they were grown? Refraining themselves from having husbands now. And that it grieved her for their sakes, that the hand of the LORD has gone out against her, now, please turn back my daughters. ¹⁴Again they wept, then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and turned back, but Ruth clung to her.

¹⁵Naomi again told Ruth to leave her, saying your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods, follow her! ¹⁶But Ruth replied, do not ask me to leave you, wherever you go -- I shall go. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷Not even death shall part us, May the LORD do such to me if anything but death does separate us. ¹⁸When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

¹⁹When the two of them came into Bethlehem the entire city was excited and the women of the city asked if this was Naomi? ²⁰However Naomi was bitter and replied, do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dwelt bitterly with me. (NOTE: The name Mara means 'bitter'). ²¹I went out full and the LORD has brought me back empty, He has dealt with me harshly. Therefore, Don't call me Naomi, for the LORD has afflicted me and testified against me. ²²So both Naomi and Ruth, (the Moabitess), stayed in Bethlehem and it was the beginning of the barley harvest.

Ruth: chapter 2

¹In the city, was a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth of the family of Elimelech, named Boaz. ²Ruth then asked Naomi if she could go into the surrounding barley fields and glean grain behind the reapers, that she might find favor in some ones sight and Naomi said, to her go my daughter. ³So Ruth went, gleaning barley and she happened to come into part of the field that belonged to Boaz, of the family of Elimelech.

⁴When Boaz returned to his fields, from doing business, he greeted his reapers in the field and said; "The LORD be with you" and the reapers replied; "The LORD bless you". ⁵Then he inquired of his head servant, "Whose young woman is this?" ⁶And he was told, it is the young woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. ⁷She asked if she could glean and gather after the reapers and she has been working all day with only a little break.

⁸Boaz than told Ruth, not to glean in any other field but to stay close to his young women. ⁹That her eyes could remain on her work and the field where she was reaping, for he had instructed the young men not to touch her and when she should get thirsty, to go to the vessels and drink. ¹⁰Ruth then bowed down and asked, why she had found such great favor with him, since she is a foreigner? ¹¹Boaz explained that it was reported to him, of all she has done for her mother-in-law since the death of her husband. How she left her father and mother and the land of her birth, to come to a people whom she did not know. ¹²Boaz then said to her; May the LORD repay your work and give you a full reward, whose wings you have come under to take refuge. ¹³Ruth then asked if she might find favor in Boaz's sight, for you have comforted this foreigner, who is not like one of your maidservants.

¹⁴At meal time Boaz invited her to eat bread with them, so Ruth sat beside the reapers and ate roasted grain and was satisfied. ¹⁵When she rose up to go back to gleaning. Boaz instructed his field help to let her glean even among the sheaves and not to reproach her for doing so. ¹⁶Even to let some of the heads of grain fall in her path that she may pick them up, without rebuking her for doing so. ¹⁷Ruth gleaned in the field until evening and she had gleaned about five gallons of barley.

¹⁸When returning back to her mother-in-law and when she had shown Naomi all that she had gleaned. ¹⁹Naomi asked Ruth where she had been gleaning and whose field was it? Then saying; Blessed be the one who took notice of you. Ruth answered her and said, the man in whose field I work is named, Boaz. ²⁰Naomi then said; Blessed of the LORD is he who has shown kindness to us, this man is a close relation to us. ²¹And Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had told her to stay close to my field help until they have finished my harvest. ²²Naomi then said to Ruth; It will be good that you stay by his young women and not to go into any other field. ²³Therefore, Ruth stayed close to his young women, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests, while staying with her mother-in-law Naomi.

Ruth: chapter 3

¹(NOTE: When the time of the harvest was nearing an end. Naomi said to Ruth; I shall seek security for you, that it may be well with you. ²Boaz, who is our relative is threshing his barley tonight. ³Now go and wash, anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴When he lies down for the night, go in and uncover his feet and lie down. He shall then tell you what you should do.

⁵So Ruth told her mother-in-law, she would do exactly as you have told me. ⁶And she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. ⁷After Boaz had eaten and drank and his heart was merry, he lied down at the end of the heap of grain and Ruth came softly, uncovered his feet and laid down. ⁸During the night, around midnight. Boaz awoke and there was a woman lying at his feet. ⁹And he asked who she was? And she replied; I am Ruth your maidservant, take me under your wing, for you are a close relative. (NOTE: By Ruth doing this, she was proposing marriage to Boaz). ¹⁰Then he said; Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! You have shown kindness in that you did not go after younger men. ¹¹Now, do not fear, for I will do all that you request, for everyone within the town knows that you are a virtuous woman. ¹²It is true that I am a close relative, however, there is a relative closer than I. ¹³Stay this night and in the morning I will settle the matter with him. If he chooses to perform the duty of a close relative for you that is good, but if he does not I give you my oath that I will.

¹⁴She lay at his feet and they rose early in the morning before the others knew she had been there and Boaz told her not to let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor. ¹⁵Before she left, Boaz gave her six measures of barley. ¹⁶When Ruth returned to the city to her mother-in-law. ¹⁷She told her what the man had said and showed her the six measures of barley he had given her, for he did not want her to return empty handed to my mother-in-law. ¹⁸Naomi then told Ruth to be calm, my daughter, until you know how this mater will be settled, assuring her that Boaz would not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.

Ruth: chapter 4

¹Boaz then went up to the gate of the city and sat down waiting for the close relative he had spoken of to come by. When he did, Boaz said; Friend, come and sit. ²Boaz then called ten elders of the city, to also sit with them, (NOTE: He did this to gather men act as witnesses). ³And he said to the close relative; Naomi, has come back from the land of Moab and has sold her piece of land that has belonged to our brother Elimelech. ⁴I thought to inform you, that you being the closest relative can buy it back. But, if you do not redeem it, then I being next of kin will redeem it. The close relative answered; "I will redeem it". ⁵Boaz then said; When you buy the field from Naomi you must also buy it from the widow Ruth, (the Moabitess), and perpetuate her dead husbands name through your inheritance. ⁶The close relative then quickly said; "I cannot redeem it, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself".

⁷As was the custom in Israel at that time concerning things redeemed, one man would take off his sandal and give it to the other and this was the confirmation. ⁸And the close relative did so, thus confirming the agreement. ⁹Boaz then said to the elders of the city; You have witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and all that was his two son's, from the hand of Naomi. ¹⁰Moreover, Ruth the Moabite, I have bought to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead through his inheritance, so that the name will not cease from among his brothers. You have all witnessed this today. ¹¹And the elders, said, We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who has come into your house like (Rachel and Leah, (NOTE: Jacob's two wives, who began the twelve tribes of Israel), for these two built the house of Israel. And may you be blessed in the land and become famous in Bethlehem. ¹²May your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give you for this young woman.

¹³So Boaz took Ruth as his wife. And the LORD had her conceive a son. ¹⁴And the women of the town said to Naomi; Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a redeemer, so that his name may be famous in Israel. ¹⁵He shall be to you as a restorer of life and one who cheers you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law who loves you has bore him, she is better to you than seven sons. ¹⁶So Naomi laid the child in her bosom and became his nurse. ¹⁷Then the women of the town, gave the child a name, saying; There's a son born to Naomi, so they called his name Obed, (NOTE: the name Obed means worshiper).

^18-22These are the generations of Pharez. Pharez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse and Jesse fathered king David.

(NOTE: The names of Obed and Boaz are recorded in both Matthew's and Luke's genealogy of the line of Christ).