1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth–lehem–judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elim´elech, and the name of his wife Na-o´mi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chil´i-on, Eph´rathites of Beth–lehem–judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elim´elech Na-o´mi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And 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 dwelt there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chil´i-on died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.