7 LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; 8 and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And 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 9 me. The 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 10 wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

1

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are 12 there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn 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 15 should also bear sons; would ye 2 tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for 3 it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her motherin-law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15

And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and 16 unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. And 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 17 people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and 18 me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19

So 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 moved about them, 20 and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not "Naomi, 21 call me 7 Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I 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

22

2

afflicted me?

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

AND Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was & Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said 2 unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in 3 whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her 9 hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The 5 LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And 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 : 7 and 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, 8 that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, 9 but abide here fast by my maidens: let 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 10 of that which the young men have drawn. Then 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? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that

1 Or, if I were with an husband.

2 Heb. hope.

3 Heb. I have much bitterness.

4 Or, Be not against me.
5 Heb. strengthened herself.
6 That is, pleasant.

7 That is, bitter.

8 Called Booz, Matt. i. 5. 9 Heb. hap happened.

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 12 art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, 13 under whose wings thou art come to trust. Then 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 14 handmaidens. And 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, 15 and left. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and 3 reproach her not: 16 and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, 17 that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

18

And 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 19 after she was sufficed. And 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 showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, 20 and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. And 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 21 man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until 22 they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-inlaw, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they 23 5 meet thee not in any other field. So 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.

4

3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our 2 kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to3 night in the threshingfloor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself 4 known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and 6 uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell 5 thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

6

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother7 in-law bade her. And 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, 8 and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and 7 turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at 9 his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art 8 a 10 near kinsman. And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, 11 inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

And now,

my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city 12 of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. And now it is true 13 that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry 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.

And she lay at his feet until the morning and she rose up before one could

14

4 Or, one that hath right to redeem.
5 Or, fall upon thee.

6 Or, lift up the clothes that are on

his feet.

7 Or, took hold on.

8 Or, one that hath right to redeem, 9 Heb. gate.

know another.

And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into 15 the floor. Also he said, Bring the 1vail 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.

16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my 17 daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty 18 unto thy mother-in-law. Then 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.

4. Then 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! 2 turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat 3 down. And 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 : 4 and f 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 5 beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then 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 6 dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest 1 mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; 7 for I cannot redeem it. Now 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 8 Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9

And 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 10 and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover 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 11 brethren, and from the gate of his place : ye are witnesses this day. And 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 3 do thou worthily in Ephratah, 12 and be famous in Beth-lehem: and 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.

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, 14 the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not 5 left thee this day without a 156kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and 7a nourisher of 8 thine old age: for thy daughter-inlaw, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And 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.

18, 19

Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, and Hezron 20 begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and 21 Nahshon begat 9 Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and 22 Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL,

OTHERWISE CALLED,

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS.

1 NOW there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim,

and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of 2 Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 4 the priests of the LORD, were there. And when the time was that Elkanah

offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, 5 portions: but unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah : 6 but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked 7 her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, 45 when she went up to the house of the LORD, So she 8 provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

9

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. 10 Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 11 she was 6 in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

12

And
And

she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid 7a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli 13 marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine 15 from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman 9 of

a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured 16 out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my 10 complaint and grief have I spoken 17 hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel 18 grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his 20 wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass 11 when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name 12 Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

21

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the 22 yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, 23 that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

1 Heb. from year to year.

2 Or, a double portion.

3 Heb. angered her.

5 Heb. from her going up.
6 Heb. bitter of soul.
7 Heb. seed of men.

4 Or, from the time that she, &c. 8 Heb. multiplied to pray.

9 Heb. hard of spirit. 10 Or, meditation.

11 Heb. in revolution of days. 12 That is, dsked of God.

24

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of 25 the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and 26 brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, 27 I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child 28 I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

2

And Hannah prayed, and said,

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,

Mine horn is exalted in the LORD;

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
Because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the LORD:

For there is none beside thee:

Neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly;

Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,

And by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken,

And they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry ceased:

So that the barren hath born seven;

And she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive :

He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:

He bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,

And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
To set them among princes,

And to make them inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,

And he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints,

And the wicked shall be silent in darkness;

For by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;

11

Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:

The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;

And he shall give strength unto his king,

And exalt the horn of his anointed.

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister 12 unto the LORD before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; 13 they knew not the LORD. And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in 14 seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of 16 thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat *presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer bim, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

1 Or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition, to the LORD.

2 Or, he trhom I have ob-
tained by petition shall
be returned.

3 Heb. hard.
4 Heb. as on the day.