This booke is intituled after the name of Ruth: which is the principall person spoken of in this treatise. Wherein also figuratiuely is set forth the state of the Church which is subiect to manifolde afflictions, and yet at length God giueth good and ioyfull ißue: teaching vs to abide with patience till God deliuer vs out of troubles. Herein also is described how Iesus Christ, who according to the flesh ought to come of Dauid, proceeded of Ruth, of whom the Lord Iesus did vouchsafe to come, notwithstanding she was a Moabite of base condition, and a stranger from the people of God: declaring vnto vs thereby that the Gentiles should be sanctified by him, and ioyned with his people, and that there should be but one sheepefolde, and one shepheard. And it seemeth that this historie appertaineth to the time of the Iudges.

1 Elimelech goeth with his wife and children into the lande of Moab. 3 Hee and his sonnes die. 19 Naomi and Ruth come to Beth-lehem.

¹ In the time that the Iudges [Note: Ebr.iudged. ] ruled, there was a dearth in the [Note: [a] In the land of Canaan. ] lande, and a man of Beth-lehem [Note: [b] In the tribe of Iudah, which was also called Bethlehem Ephrathah, because there was another citie so called in the tribe of Zebulun. ] Iudah went for to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sonnes.

² And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi: and the names of his two sonnes, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem Iudah: and when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.

³ Then Elimelech the husbande of Naomi died, and she remayned with her two sonnes,

⁴ Which tooke them wiues of the [Note: [c] By this wonderfull prouidence of God Ruth became one of Gods housholde, of whome Christ came. ] Moabites: the ones name was Orpah, & the name of ye other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten yeeres.

⁵ And Mahlon and Chilion dyed also both twaine: so the woman was left destitute of her two sonnes, and of her husband.

⁶ ¶ Then she arose wt her daughters in law, and returned from the countrey of Moab: for she had heard say in the countrey of Moab, that the Lord had [Note: [d] By sending them plentie againe. ] visited his people, and giuen them bread.

⁷ Wherefore shee departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her, and they went on their way to returne vnto the land of Iudah.

⁸ Then Naomi saide vnto her two daughters [Page]

in lawe, Goe, returne eche of you vnto her owne mothers house: the Lord shew fauour vnto you, as ye haue done with the dead, and with me.

⁹ The Lorde graunt you, that you may finde [Note: [e] Hereby it appeareth that Naomi by dwelling among idolaters was waxen colde in the true zeale of God, which rather hath respect to the ease of the body then to the comfort of the soule. ] rest, either of you in the house of her husbande. And when she kissed them, they lift vp their voice and wept.

¹⁰ And they saide vnto her, Surely we will returne with thee vnto thy people.

¹¹ But Naomi saide, Turne againe, my daughters: for what cause will you go with me? are there any mo sonnes in my wombe, that they may bee your husbands?

¹² Turne againe, my daughters: go your way: for I am too olde to haue an husband. If I should say, I haue hope, and if I had an husbad this night: yea, if I had borne sonnes,

¹³ Would yee tarie for them, till they were of age? would ye be deferred for them from taking of husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieueth me [Note: Or, more then you. ] much for your sakes that the hand of the Lorde is gone out against me.

¹⁴ Then they lift vp their voyce and wept againe, and Orpah [Note: [f] When shee tooke leaue and departed. ] kissed her mother in lawe, but Ruth abode still with her.

¹⁵ And Naomi said, Beholde, thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people and vnto her gods: [Note: [g] No perswasions can preuaile to turne them backe from God whom he hath chosen to be his. ] returne thou after thy sister in lawe.

¹⁶ And Ruth answered, Intreate mee not to leaue thee, nor to depart from thee: for whither thou goest, I will goe: 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 ¶ Whe she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking vnto her.

¹⁹ So they went both vntill they came to Beth-lehem: and when they were come to Beth-lehem, it was [Note: [h] Whereby appeareth that she was of a great familie and of good reputation. ] noysed of them through all the citie, and they said, Is not this Naomi?

²⁰ And she answered them, Call me not [Note: Or beautifull. ] Naomi, but call me [Note: Or, bitter. ] Mara: for the Almightie hath giuen me much bitternes.

²¹ I went out full, and the Lorde hath caused me to returne emptie: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath humbled me, and the Almightie hath brought me vnto aduersitie?

²² So Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitesse her daughter in law with her, when she came out of the countrey of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of [Note: [i] Which was in the moneth Nisan, that conteineth part of March and part of April. ] barly haruest.

1 Ruth gathereth corne in the fieldes of Boaz. 8 The gentlenesse of Boaz toward her.

¹ Then Naomis husband had a kinsman, one of great [Note: [a] Both for vertue, authoritie and riches. ] power of the familie of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

² And Ruth ye Moabitesse said vnto Naomi, I pray thee, Let mee goe to the fielde, and [Note: [b] This her humilitie declareth her great affection toward her mother in lawe forasmuch as she spareth no painefull diligence to get both their liuings. ] gather eares of corne after him, in whose sight I finde fauour. And she said vnto her, Goe my daughter.

³ ¶ And she went, and came and gleaned in the fielde after the reapers, and it came to passe, that she met with the portion of the fielde of Boaz, who was of the familie of Elimelech.

⁴ And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and saide vnto the reapers, The Lord be with you: and they answered him, The Lord blesse thee.

⁵ Then saide Boaz vnto his seruant that was appointed ouer the reapers, Whose maide is this?

⁶ And the seruant that was appointed ouer the reapers, answered, and said, It is the Moabitish maide, that came with Naomi out of the countrey of Moab:

⁷ And shee saide vnto vs, I pray you, let mee gleane and gather after the reapers [Note: Or, certaine handfuls. ] among the sheaues: so shee came, and hath continued from that time in the morning vnto now, saue that she taried a litle in the house.

⁸ ¶ Then said Boaz vnto Ruth, Hearest thou, my daughter? goe to none other fielde to gather, neither goe from hence: but abide here by my maydens.

⁹ [Note: [c] That is, take heede in what fielde they doe reape. ] Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reape, and goe thou after the maidens. Haue I not charged the seruants, that they touche thee not? Moreouer whe thou art a thirst, go vnto ye vessels, and drinke of that which ye seruants haue drawen.

¹⁰ Then shee fell on her face, and bowed her selfe to the ground, and said vnto him, How haue I found fauour in thine eyes, that thou shouldest know me, seeing I am [Note: [d] Euen of the Moabites, which are enemies to Gods people. ] a stranger?

¹¹ And Boaz answered, & said vnto her, All is told and shewed me that thou hast done vnto thy mother in lawe, since the death of thine husband, and how thou hast left thy father & thy mother, and ye land where thou wast borne, & art come vnto a people which thou knewest not in time past.

¹² The Lord recompense thy worke, and a ful reward be giuen thee of the Lord God of Israel, vnder whose [Note: [e] Signifying, that she shall neuer want any thing, if she put her trust in God, and liue vnder his protection. ] wings thou art come to trust.

¹³ Then she saide, Let me finde fauour in thy sight, my lord: for thou hast comforted mee, and spoken comfortably vnto thy mayde, though I be not like to one of thy maydes.

¹⁴ And Boaz said vnto her, At the meale time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dippe thy morsell in the vineger. And she sate beside the reapers, and hee reached her parched corne: and shee did eate, and was sufficed, and [Note: [f] Which shee brought home to her mother in lawe. ] left thereof.

¹⁵ ¶ And when she arose to gleane, Boaz commanded his seruants, saying, Let her gather among the sheaues, and doe not rebuke her.

¹⁶ Also let fall some of the sheaues for her, and let it lie, yt she may gather it vp, & rebuke her not.

¹⁷ So she gleaned in the fielde vntill euening, and she thresshed that shee had gathered, and it was about an [Note: Exod.16.36. ] Ephah of barly.

¹⁸ ¶ And she tooke it vp, & went into the citie, & her mother in law saw what she had gathered: Also she [Note: [g] To wit, of her bagge, as is in the Chalde text. ] tooke foorth, and gaue to her that which she had reserued, when she was sufficed.

¹⁹ Then her mother in lawe saide vnto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he, that knewe thee. And she shewed her mother in lawe, with whome she had wrought, and saide, The mans name, with whom I wrought to day, is Boaz.

²⁰ And Naomi said vnto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lorde: for he ceaseth not to doe good to the liuing and to the [Note: [h] To my husband and children, when they were aliue, and now to vs. ] dead. Againe Naomi saide vnto her, The man is neere vnto vs, and of our affinitie.

²¹ And Ruth the Moabitesse said, He said also certainely vnto mee, Thou shalt be with my seruants, vntill they haue ended all mine haruest.

²² And Naomi answered vnto Ruth her daughter in lawe, It is best, my daughter, that thou goe

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out with his maides, that they [Note: Or, fall vpon thee. ] meete thee not in an other fielde.
²³ Then she kept her by the maides of Boaz, to gather vnto the end of barly haruest, and of wheate haruest, and [Note: Or, returned to her mother in lawe. ] dwelt with her mother in lawe.

1 Naomi giueth Ruth counsell 3 She sleepeth at Boaz feete. 12 He acknowledgeth himselfe to be her kinsman.

¹ Afterward Naomi her mother in lawe said vnto her, My daughter, shall not I seeke [Note: [a] Meaning, that she would prouide her of an husband, with whome she might liue quietly. ] rest for thee, that thou mayest prosper?

² Now also is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maides thou wast? beholde, he winoweth barly to night in the [Note: Or, in the barne. ] floore.

³ Wash thy sellfe therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment vpon thee, and get thee downe to the floore: let not the [Note: [b] Boaz, nor yet any other. ] man know of thee, vntill he haue left eating and drinking.

⁴ And when he shall sleepe, marke the place where he layeth him downe, and go, and vncouer the place of his feete, and lay thee downe, and he shall tell thee what thou shalt doe.

⁵ And she answered her, All that thou biddest me, I will doe.

⁶ ¶ So she went downe vnto the floore, and did according to all that her mother in lawe bade her.

⁷ And when Boaz had eaten, and drunken, and [Note: [c] That is, had refreshed himselfe among his seruants. ] cheared his heart, he went to lie downe at the end of the heape of corne, & she came softly, and vncouered the place of his feet, & lay downe.

⁸ And at midnight the man was afraide [Note: Or, turned him selfe from one side to another. ] and caught holde: and loe, a woman lay at his feete.

⁹ Then he sayd, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmayd: spread therefore the wing of thy garment ouer thine handmayd: for thou art the kinsman.

¹⁰ Then sayd he, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: thou hast [Note: [d] Thou shewest thy selfe from time to time more vertuous. ] shewed more goodnes in the latter end, then at the beginning, in as much as thou followedst not yong men, were they poore or rich.

¹¹ And now, my daughter, feare not: I will doe to thee all that thou requirest: for all the citie of my people doeth knowe, that thou art a vertuous woman.

¹² And now, it is true that I am thy kinsman, howbeit there is a kinsman neerer then I.

¹³ Tarie to night, and when morning is come, if he [Note: [e] If he will take thee to be his wife by the title of affinitie, according to Gods lawe, Deut.25.5. ] will doe the duetie of a kinsman vnto thee, well, let him doe the kinsmans duetie: but if he will not doe the kinsmans part, then wil I doe the duetie of a kinsman, as the Lorde liueth: sleepe vntill the morning.

¹⁴ ¶ And she lay at his feete vntill the morning: and she arose before one could know another: for he sayd, Let no man knowe, that a woman came into the floore.

¹⁵ Also he sayd, Bring the [Note: Or, mantel. ] sheete that thou hast vpon thee, and holde it. And when she helde it, he measured sixe measures of barly, and layde them on her, and she went into the citie.

¹⁶ And when she came to her mother in law, she sayd, [Note: [f] Perceiuing by her comming home, that he had not taken her to his wife, she was astonied. ] Who art thou, my daughter? And she tolde her all that the man had done to her,

¹⁷ And said, These sixe measures of barly gaue he me: for he sayd to me, Thou shalt not come emptie vnto thy mother in lawe.

¹⁸ Then sayd she, My daughter, sit still, vntill

thou knowe how the thing will fall: for the man wil not be in rest, vntill he hath finished the matter this same day.

1 Boaz speaketh to Ruths next kinsman touching her mariage. 7 The ancient custome in Israel. 10 Boaz marieth Ruth, of whom he begetteth Obed. 18 The generation of Pharez.

¹ Then went Boaz vp to the [Note: [a] Which was the place of iudgement. ] gate, and sate there, and beholde, the kinsman, of whome Boaz had spoken, came by: and he sayd, [Note: [b] The Ebrewes here vse two words which haue no proper signification, but serue to note a certaine person: as we say, ho, syrray, or ho, such one. ] Ho, snch one, come, sit downe here. And he turned, and sate downe.

² Then he tooke ten men of the Elders of the citie, and sayd, Sit ye downe here. And they sate downe.

³ And he said vnto ye kinsman, Naomi, that is come againe out of ye countrey of Moab, wil sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelechs.

⁴ And I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the [Note: Or, inhabitants. ] assistants, & before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it: but if thou wilt not redeeme it, tel me: for I know that there is none [Note: [c] For thou art the next of the kinne. ] besides thee to redeeme it, & I am after thee. Then he answered, I wil redeeme it.

⁵ Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou mnst also buy it of Ruth the Moabitesse the wife of the dead, to stirre vp the name of the dead, vpon his [Note: [d] That his inheritance might beare his name that is dead. ] inheritance.

⁶ And the kinsman answered, I can not redeeme it, lest I destroy mine owne inheritance: redeeme my right to thee, for I can not redeeme it.

⁷ Now this was the maner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and changing, for to stablish all things: a man did plucke off his shooe, and gaue it his neighbour, and this was a sure [Note: [e] That he had resigned his right, Deut.25.9. ] witnes in Israel.

⁸ Therefore the kinsman sayd to Boas, Buy it for thee: and he drew off his shooe.

⁹ And Boaz sayd vnto the Elders & vnto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chilions and Mahlons, of the hand of Naomi.

¹⁰ And moreouer, Ruth the Moabitesse the wife of Mahlon, haue I bought to be my wife, to stirre vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritance, and that the name of the dead be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his [Note: [f] Or, of the citie where he remained. ] place: ye are witnesses this day.

¹¹ And all the people that were in the gate, and the Elders sayd, We are witnesses: the Lorde make the wife that commeth into thine house, like Rahel and like Leah, which twaine did build the house of Israel: & that thou mayest doe worthily in [Note: [g] Ephrathah and Beth-lehem are both one. ] Ephrathah, & be famous in Beth-lehem,

¹² And that thine house be like the house of Pharez ( [Note: Gene.38.29. ] whom Thamar bare vnto Iudah) of the seede which the Lord shall giue thee of this yong woman.

¹³ ¶ So Boaz tooke Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in vnto her, the Lorde gaue that she conceiued, and bare a sonne.

¹⁴ And the women sayd vnto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, and [Note: [h] He shall leaue a continuall posteritie. ] his name shalbe continued in Israel.

¹⁵ And this shall bring thy life againe, and cherish thine olde age: for thy daughter in lawe which loueth thee, hath borne vnto him, and she is better to thee then [Note: [i] Meaning, many sonnes. ] seuen sonnes.
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¹⁶ And Naomi tooke the childe, and layde it in her lap, and became nource vnto it.

¹⁷ And the women her neighbours gaue it a name, saying, There is a childe borne to Naomi, and called the name thereof Obed: the same was the father of Ishai, the father of Dauid.

¹⁸ ¶ These now are ye generations of [Note: 1.Chro.2.4. mat.1.3. ] [Note: [k] This genealogie is brought in, to proue that Dauid by succession came of the house of Iudah. ] Pharez: Pharez begate Hezron,

¹⁹ And Hezron begate Ram, & Ram begate Amminadab,

²⁰ And Amminadab begate Nahshon, and Nahshon begate Salmah,

²¹ And Salmon begate Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

²² And Obed begate Ishai, and Ishai begate Dauid.