A reading from the Book of Ruth.

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land,

and a man of Bethlehem and Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab,

he and his wife and his two sons.

The name of the man was a Limelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi,

and the names of his two sons were Malon and Killian.

They were Ephrothites from Bethlehem and Judah. They went into the country of Moab and

remained there, but Alimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

These took Moabide wives. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth.

They lived there about ten years, and both Melon and Killian died,

so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab,

for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people

and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law,

and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,

Go. Return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you, in the house of her husband.

Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept, and they said to her,

No, we will return with you to your people.

But Naomi said,

Turn back my daughters. Why will you go with me?

Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?

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