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Then the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we doe for wiues for them that remaine? seeing the women are destroyed out of Beniamin.

And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that bee escaped of Beniamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

Howbeit wee may not giue them wiues of our daughters. For the children of Israel haue sworne, saying, Cursed be he that giueth a wife to Beniamin.

And it shall bee when their fathers or their brethren come vnto vs to complaine, that we will say vnto them, Bee fauourable vnto them for our sakes: because we reserued not to each man his wife in the warre: for yee did not giue vnto them at this time, that you should be guiltie.

Then shee arose with her daughters in law, that shee might returne from the countrey of Moab: for shee had heard in the countrey of Moab, how that the Lord had visited his people, in giuing them bread.

Turne againe, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to haue an husband: if I should say, I haue hope, if I should haue a husband also to night, and should also beare sonnes:

Would ye tary for them till they were growen? would ye stay for them from hauing husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieueth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

And Ruth said, Intreate mee not to leaue thee, or to returne from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will goe; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

And she said vnto them, Call me not Naomi; call mee Mara: for the Almightie hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Then she said, Let me finde fauour in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted mee, and for that thou hast spoken friendly vnto thine handmaid, though I be not like vnto one of thy hand-maidens.

And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leaue them that she may gleane them, and rebuke her not.

Then Naomi her mother in law said vnto her, My daughter, shal I not seeke rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

And hee said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt ouer thine handmaid, for thou art a neare kinseman.

And hee said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindnesse in the latter ende, then at the beginning, in as much as thou followedst not yong men, whether poore, or rich.

And now my daughter, feare not, I will doe to thee all that thou requirest: for all the citie of my people doeth know, that thou art a vertuous woman.

And she said, These sixe measures of barley gaue he me, for he said to me, Go not emptie vnto thy mother in law.

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, vntill thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, vntil he haue finished the thing this day.

And I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it, but if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell mee, that I may know: for there is none to redeeme it, besides thee, and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeeme it.

And the kinseman said, I cannot redeeme it for my selfe, lest I marre mine owne inheritance: redeeme thou my right to thy selfe, for I cannot redeeme it.

Now this was the maner in former time in Israel, concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirme all things: a man plucked off his shooe, and gaue it to his neighbour: and this was a testimonie in Israel.