The Book Of Ruth

The Argument

This Book is intituled after the name of Ruth: which is the principal person
spoken of in this treatise. Wherein also figuratively is set forth the state of
the Church which is subject to manifold afflictions, and yet at length God
giveth good and joyful issue, teaching us to abide with patience till God
deliver us out of troubles. Herein also is described how Jesus Christ, who
according to the flesh ought to come of David, proceeded of Ruth, of whom
the Lord Jesus did vouchsafe to come, not withstanding she was a Moabite
of base condition, and a stranger from the people of God: declaring unto us
thereby that Gentiles should be sanctified by him, and joined with his people,
and that there should be but one sheepfold, and one shepard. And it seemeth
that this history appertaineth to the time of the Judges.
Ruth 1................................................................................................................................... 3
Ruth 2................................................................................................................................... 5
Ruth 3................................................................................................................................... 7
Ruth 4................................................................................................................................... 9
Ruth 1
1
In the time that the Judges ruled, there was a dearth in the land, and a man of
Beth-lehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife,
and his two sons.
2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi: and
the names of his two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem
Judah: and when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
3
Then Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she remained with her two
sons,
4
Which took them wives of the Moabites: the one name was Orpah, and the
name of ye other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both twain: so the woman was left destitute
of her two sons, and of her husband.
6
Then she arose with her daughters in law, and returned from the country of
Moab: for she had heard say in the country of Moab, that the Lord had visited his
people, and given them bread.
7
Wherefore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two
daughters in law with her, and they went on their way to return unto the land of
Judah.
8
Then Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each of you unto
her own mother’s house: the Lord shew favor unto you, as ye have done with the
dead, and with me.
9
The Lord grant you, that you may find rest, either of you in the house of her
husband. And when she kissed them, they lifted up their voice and wept.
10
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11
But Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: for what cause will you go with
me? Are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12
Turn again, my daughters: go your way: for I am too old to have an husband. If
I should say, I have hope, and if I had an husband this night: yea, if I had born
sons,
13
Would ye tarry for them, till they were of age? Would ye be deferred for them
from taking of husbands? Nay my daughters: for it grieveth me much for your
sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14
Then they lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother in
law, but Ruth abode still with her.
15
And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people and
unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16
And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to depart from thee: for
whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou dwellest, I will dwell: thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God.
17
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. the Lord do so to me
and more also, if ought but death depart thee and me.
18
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left
speaking unto her.
19
So they went both until they came to Beth-lehem: and when they were come
to Beth-lehem, it was noised of them through all the city, and they said, Is not this
Naomi?
20
And she answered them, Call me not Naomi, but call me Mara: for the
Almighty hath given me much bitterness.
21
I went out full, and the Lord hath caused me to return empty: why call ye me
Naomi, seeing the Lord hath humbled me, and the Almighty hath brought me
unto adversity?
22
So Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter in law with her, when
she came out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the
beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 2
1
Then Naomi’s husband had a kinsman, one of great power of the family of
Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
2
And Ruth ye Moabitess said unto Naomi, I pray thee, Let me go to the field,
and gather ears of corn after him, in whose sight I find favor. And she said unto
her, Go my daughter.
3
And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and it came
to pass, that she met with the portion of the field of Boaz, who was of the family
of Elimelech.
4
And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord
be with you: and they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
5
Then said Boaz unto his servant that was appointed over the reapers, Whose
maid is this?
6
And the servant that was appointed over the reapers, answered, and said, It is
the Moabitish maid, that came with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7
And she said unto us, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers
among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued from that time in the
morning unto now, save that she tarried a little in the house.
8
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou, my daughter? Go to none other field
to gather, neither go from hence: but abide here by my maidens.
9
Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after the maidens.
Have I not charged the servants, that they touch thee not? Moreover when thou
art a thirst, go unto ye vessels, and drink of that which ye servants have drawn.
10
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him,
How have I found favor in thine eyes, that thou shouldest know me, seeing I am
a stranger?
11
And Boaz answered, and said unto her, All is told and shewed me 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 ye land where thou wast born, and
art come unto a people which thou knewest not in time past.
12
The 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.
13
Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord: for thou hast comforted
me, and spoken comfortably unto thy maid, though I be not like to one of thy
maids.
14
And Boaz said unto her, At the meal time 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 thereof.
15
And when she arose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, Let her
gather among the sheaves, and do not rebuke her.
16
Also let fall some of the sheaves for her, and let it lie, that she may gather it
up, and rebuke her not.
17
So she gleaned in the field until evening, and she threshed that she had
gathered, 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 gathered: Also she took forth, and gave to her that which she had reserved,
when she was sufficed.
19
Then her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? And
where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he, that knew thee. And she shewed her
mother in law, with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name, with
whom I wrought today, is Boaz.
20
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord: for he
ceaseth not to do good to the living and to the dead. Again Naomi said unto her,
The man is near unto us, and of our affinity.
21
And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said also certainly unto me, Thou shalt be
with my servants, until they have ended all mine harvest.
22
And Naomi answered unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is best, my daughter,
that thou go out with his maids, that they meet thee not in another field.
23
Then she kept her by the maids of Boaz, to gather unto the end of barley
harvest, and of wheat harvest, and dwelt with her mother in law.
Ruth 3
1
Afterward Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall not I seek
rest for thee, that thou mayest prosper?
2
Now also is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids thou wast? Behold, he
winnoweth barley tonight in the floor.
3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and
get thee down to the floor: let not the man know of thee, until he have left eating
and drinking.
4
And when he shall sleep, mark the place where he layeth him down, and go,
and uncover the place of his feet, and lay thee down, and he shall tell thee what
thou shalt do.
5
And she answered her, All that thou biddest me, I will do.
6
So she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law
bade her.
7
And when Boaz had eaten, and drunken, and cheered his heart, he went to lie
down at the end of the heap of corn, and she came softly, and uncovered the
place of his feet, and laid down.
8
And at midnight the man was afraid and caught hold: and lo, a woman lay at
his feet.
9
Then he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid:
spread therefore the wing of thy garment over thine handmaid: for thou art the
kinsman.
10
Then said he, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: thou hast shewed
more goodness in the latter end, than at the beginning, in as much as thou
followedst not young men, were they poor or rich.
11
And now, my daughter, fear not: I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all
the city of my people doeth know, that thou art a virtuous woman.
12
And now, it is true that I am thy kinsman, howbeit there is a kinsman nearer
than I.
13
Tarry tonight, and when morning is come, if he will do the duty of a kinsman
unto thee, well, let him do the kinsman’s duty: but if he will not do the kinsman’s
part, then will I do the duty of a kinsman, as the Lord liveth: sleep until the
morning.
14
And she laid at his feet until the morning: and she arose before one could
know another: for he said, Let no man know, that a woman came into the floor.
15
Also he said, Bring the sheet that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when
she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid them on her, and she
went into the city.
16
And 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,
17
And said, These six measures of barley gave he me: for he said to me, Thou
shalt not come empty unto thy mother in law.
18
Then said she, My daughter, sit still, until thou know how the thing will fall: for
the man will not be in rest, until he hath finished the matter this same day.
Ruth 4
1
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat there, and behold, the kinsman, of
whom Boaz had spoken, came by: and he said, Ho, such one, come, sit down
here. And he turned, and sat down.
2
Then he took ten men of the Elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And
they sat down.
3
And he said unto ye kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of ye country of
Moab, will sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.
4
And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the assistants, and before
the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not
redeem it, tell me: for I know that there is none besides thee to redeem it, and I
am after thee. Then he answered, I will redeem it.
5
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou
must also buy it of Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the dead, to stir up the name of
the dead, upon his inheritance.
6
And the kinsman answered, I cannot redeem it, lest I destroy mine own
inheritance: redeem my right to thee, for I cannot redeem it.
7
Now this was the manner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and
changing, for to establish all things: a man did pluck off his shoe, and gave it his
neighbor, and this was a sure witness in Israel.
8
Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thee: and 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 and
Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10
And moreover, Ruth the Moabitess the wife of Mahlon, have I bought to be my
wife, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, and that the name of
the dead be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place:
ye are witnesses this day.
11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the Elders said, We are
witnesses: the Lord make the wife that cometh into thine house, like Rachel and
like Leah, which twain did build the house of Israel: and that thou mayest do
worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem,
12
And that thine 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, the
Lord gave that she conceived, and bare a son.
14
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee
this day without a kinsman, and his name shall be continued in Israel.
15
And this shall bring thy life again, and cherish thine old age: for thy daughter in
law which loveth thee, hath born unto him, and she is better to thee than seven
sons.
16
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her lap, and became nurse unto it.
17
And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a child born to
Naomi, and called the name thereof Obed: the same was the father of Jesse, the
father of David.
18
These now are ye generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19
And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20
And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21
And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22
And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.