Kindness in the Midst of a Bitter Providence

Ruth 1:6

6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab

Ruth 1:6

that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.

Ruth 1:7

7So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and

Ruth 1:7

they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

Ruth 1:8

8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly

Ruth 1:8

with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

Ruth 1:9

9The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them,

Ruth 1:9

and they lifted up their voices and wept.

Ruth 1:9

Ruth 1:15

15And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

Ruth 1:16

16But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go,

Ruth 1:16

and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Ruth 1:17

17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and

Ruth 1:17

more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Ruth 1:18

18And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

Ruth 1:18

Ruth 1:19

19So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem,

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the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

Ruth 1:20

20She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

Ruth 1:21

21I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified

Ruth 1:21

against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Ruth 1:22

22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab.

Ruth 1:22

And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.