THE BOOKE OF RVTH. Chap. I. By occasion of famine Elimelech of Bethleem going with his wife Noemi, and two sonnes, into the Land of Moab, there dieth. 4. His sonnes marrie wiues of that countrie, and die without issue. 6. Noemi returning homewardes hardly perswadeth one of her daughters in law, to part from her. 15. The other, called Ruth, wil needes goe with her, profe&esset;ing the same God and Religion. 19. So these two arriue in Betheleem.

1   In the dayes of one Iudge, when the Iudges ruled, there came a famine in the Land. And there went a man of Bethleem Iuda, to seiourne in the land of Moab with his wife, and two children.

2   him self was called Elimelech, and his wife, Noemi: and his two sonnes, the one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephraites of Bethleem Iuda. And entring into the countrie of Moab, they abode there.

3   And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with her sonnes.

4   Who tooke wiues of the Moabites, of the which one was called Orpha, and the other Ruth. And they abode there ten yeares,

5   and both died, to witte, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman remayned destitute of her two children & her husband.

6   And she arose to goe into her countrie with both her daughters in law from the countrie of Moab: for she had heard that our Lord had respected his people, & had geuen them victuals.

7   She therfore went forth from the place of her peregrination, with both her daughters in law: and being now sette in the way to returne into the Land of Iuda,

8   she said to them: Goe into your mothers house, our Lord doe mercie with you, as you haue done with the dead and with me.

9   Grant he vnto you to find rest in the houses of your husbandes, which you shal take. And she kissed them. Who lifting vp their voice beganne to weepe,

10   & to say: We wil goe on with thee to thy people.

11   To whom she answered: Returne my daughters, why come you with me? shal I haue sonnes any more in my wombe, that you may hope for husbandes of me?

12   Returne my daughters, and goe your wayes: for I am now spent with old age, and not fitte for wedlocke. Although I might conceiue this

Elimelech. Noemi. night, and beare children,

13   if you would expect til they grow, and be of mans age, you shal be old women befor you marrie. Doe not so my daughters, I besech you: for your distresse doth the more greue me, and the hand of our Lord is come forth against me.

14   Therfore lifting vp their voice, they beganne to weepe agayne, Orpha kissed her mother in law, and returned: Ruth cleaued to her mother in law.

15   to whom Noemi said: Behold thy kinsemwoman is returned to her people, and ^note to her goddes, goe with her.

16   Who answered: Be not against me, to the end that I should leaue thee and depart: for whither soeuer thou shalt goe, I wil goe: and where thou shalt abide, I also wil abide. Thy people my people, and thy God my God.

17   The land that shal receiue thee dying, in the same wil I die: and there wil I take a place for my burial. These thinges doe God to me, & these thinges adde he, if death onlie shal not separate me and thee.

18   Noemi therfore seing, that Ruth with a stidfast mind had determined to goe forward with her, would not be against it, nor perswade her any more to returne to her frendes:

19   and they went forth together, and came into Bethlehem. Who being entered into the citie, a brute was quickly spred among them: and the wemen said: This is that Noemi.

20   To whom she said: Cal me not Noemi (that it to say, beautiful) but cal me Mara (that is to say, bitter) because with bitternes hath the Almightie very much replenished me.

21   I went forth ^note ful, and our Lord hath brought me backe emptie. Why therfore doe you cal me Noemi whom our Lord hath humbled, and the Almightie hath afflicted?

22   Noemi therfore came with Ruth the Moabite her daughter in law, from the Land of her peregrination: and returned into Bethlehem, when barley was first reaped. Chap. II. Ruth gathering eares of corne in Booz field, 8. he kindly biddeth her tarie with his seruantes. 17. At night she returneth carying good quantitie of corne, and part of the meate, which they gaue her, to her mother in law.

1   And Elimelech her husband had a cosin, a mightie man, and of great riches, named Booz.

2   And Ruth the Moabite said to her mother in law: If thou command, I wil goe into the field, and gather the eares of corne, that shal escape the handes of the reapers, where soeuer I shal find the

Booz. grace of the father of the house fauorable towardes me. To whom she answered: Goe my daughter.

3   She went therfore and gathered the eares of corne after the backes of the reapers. And it chanced that the owner of the same field was Booz, who was of the kinred of Elimelech.

4   And behold, he came out of Bethlehem, and said to the reapers: ^note Our Lord be with you. Who answered him: Our Lord blesse thee.

5   And Booz said to the yongman, that was ouerseer of the reapers: Whose maide is this?

6   To whom he answered: This is that Moabite, which came with Noemi, from the countrie of Moab,

7   and she desired that she might gather the eares of corne that remayne, folowing the steppes of the reapers: and from morning vntil now she stayeth in the field, and not so much as for a very moment hath she returned home.

8   And Booz said to Ruth: Heare me daughter, goe not into an other field to gather, neither depart thou from this place: but ioyne thy selfe to my maides,

9   and where they haue reaped, folow. For I haue commanded my seruantes, that no man molest thee: but if thou shalt thirst also, goe to the fardels, and drinke the waters, wherof the seruantes also doe drinke.

10   who falling on her face and adoring vpon the ground, said to him: Whence cometh this to me, that I should find grace before thine eies, and that thou wouldest voutsafe to know me a strange woman?

11   To whom he answered: Al thinges haue beene told me, which thou hast done to thy mother in law after the death of thy husband: and that thou hast leift thy parentes, and the land wherein thou wast borne, and art come to a people, which before thou knewest not.

12   Our Lord ^note render vnto thee for thy worke, and God grant thou mayest receiue ^note a ful reward of our Lord the God of Israel, to whom thou art come, & vnder whose winges thou art fled.

13   Who said: I haue found grace in thine eies my lord, which hast comforted me, and hast spoken to the hart of thy handmaide, which am not like to one of thy maides.

14   And Booz said to her: When the houre shal come to eate, come hither, and eate bread, and dippe thy morsel in the vinagre. She therfore sate at the side of the reapers, and she heaped to her selfe polent, and did eate and was filled, and tooke the leauinges.

15   And from thence she arose, to gleane the eares of corne after her maner. And Booz commanded his seruantes, saying: Yea and if she wil reape with

Booz. you, forbid her not:

16   and of your owne handfuls also cast forth of purpose, and let them remaine, that she may gother them without bashefulnes, and gathering let no man controwle her.

17   She gloaned therfore in the field vntil euening: & that which she had gathered beating with a rodde & threshing she found of barley as it were the measure of an ephi, that is, three bushels.

18   Which carying she returned into the citie, and shewed to her mother in law: moreouer she brought forth, and gaue her of the remaynes of her meate, wherwith she had beene filled.

19   And her mother in law said to her: Where hast thou gathered to day, and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that hath had mercie on thee. And she told her with whom she had wrought: and she told the mans name, that he was called Booz.

20   To whom Noemi answered: Be he blessed of our Lord: because the same grace, which he had shewed to the liuing, he hath kept also to the dead. And agayne she said: The man is our nigh cosin.

21   And Ruth, This also, quoth she, he commanded me, that so long I should ioyne my self to the reapers, til al the corne were reaped.

22   To whom her mother in law said: It is better my daughter, that thou goe forth with his maides to reape, lest in an other mans field some may resist thee.

23   She therfore ioyned her self to the maides of Booz: and so long reaped with them, til the barley and the wheate were layd vp in the barnes. Chap. III. Ruth instructed by her mother in law sleepeth at Booz feete, 8. and signifiing that she perteyneth to him by the law of affinitie, receiueth a good answer, 14. and six measures of barley.

1   Bvt after that she was returned to her mother in law, she heard of her: My daughter, I wil seeke thee rest, and wil prouide that it may be wel with thee.

2   This Booz, to whose maides thou art ioyned in the field, is our nigh kinsman, and this night he wynoweth the barne floore of the barley.

3   Wash therfore and annoynte thy self, and put on thy better garmentes, and goe downe into the barne floore, let no man see thee, til he shal haue ended eating & drinking.

4   And when he shal goe to sleepe, marke the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt come, and discouer the mantel wherwith he is couered toward his feete, and shal cast thy

Booz. self downe and lie there: ^note and he wil tel thee what thou must doe.

5   Who answered: Whatsoeuer thou shalt command, that wil I doe.

6   And she went downe into the barne floore, and did al the thinges which her mother in law had commanded her.

7   And when Booz had eaten, & drunken, and was made pleasant, and was gone to sleepe by the heape of sheaues, she came closely, and discouering the mantel, at his feete, layd her self downe.

8   And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afrayd, and trubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feete,

9   and said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaide: spred thy mantel vpon thy seruant, because thou art nigh of kinne.

10   And he said: Blessed art thou of our Lord my daughter, and the former mercie thou hast passed with the later: because thou hast ^note not folowed yong men either poore or rich.

11   Feare not therfore, but whatsoeuer thou shalt say to me, I wil doe to thee. For al the people that dwelleth within the gates of my citie, knowe, that thou art a woman of vertue.

12   Neither doe I denie my self nigh of kinne, but there is an other neerer then I.

13   Rest this night: and when morning is come, if he wil retayne thee by the right of nigh of kindred, the thing is wel done, but if he wil not, I wil take thee without al doubt, our Lord liueth, sleepe vntil morning.

14   She slept therfore at his feete til the night was gone. Therfore she arose before men could know one an other, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.

15   And agayne, Spred, quoth he, thy mantel, wherwith thou art couered, and hold it with both handes. Who spredding and holding it, he measured six measures of barley, and put it vpon her. Who carying it entred into the citie,

16   and came to her mother in law. Who said to her: What hast thou done daughter? And she told her al thinges, that the man had done to her.

17   And she said: Behold six measures of barley hath he geuen me, and he said: I wil not haue thee returne emptie to thy mother in law.

18   And Noemi said: Expect daughter til we see what end the thing wil haue. For the man wil not cease vntil he haue accomplished that which he hath spoken. Chap. IIII. Booz before the ancientes of the citie (the neerer kinsman refusing) possesseth the inheritance of Elimelech, 10. and marieth Ruth. 13. Hath by her a

Booz. sonne, the grandfather of Dauid. 18. VVhose genealogie by this occasion is recited, from Phares the sonne of Iudas the patriarch.

1   Booz therfore went vp to the gate, and sate there. And when he had seene the nigh kinsman passe by, of whom the talke was had before, he said to him: Turne in a litle while, and sitte here: calling him by his name. Who turned in, and sate.

2   And Booz taking ten men of the citie, said to them: Sitte ye here.

3   Who sitting downe, he spake to the nigh kinseman: Noemi, who is returned from the countrie of Moab, wil sel the part of the field belonging to ^note our brother Elimelech.

4   Which I would thee to vnderstand, and would tel thee before al that sitte, and the ancientes of my people. If thou wilt possesse it by the right of nigh kindred: bye, and possesse it. but if it please thee not, tel me the same, that I may know what I ought to doe. For there is no nigh kinseman sauing thee, which art first, and me, who am second. But he answered: I wil bye the field.

5   To whom Booz said: When thou shalt bye the field at the womans hand, thou must take also Ruth the Moabite, which was the wife of the deceased: that thou mayest rayse vp the name of thy kinsman in his inheritance.

6   Who answered: I yeld my right of nigh kindred: for I may not abolish the posteritie of myne owne familie. Doe thou vse my priuiledge, which I professe that I doe willingly forgoe.

7   And ^note this in old time was the maner in Israel betwen kinsemen, that if at any time one yelded to an other his right: that the graunt might be sure, the man put of his shoe, and gaue it to his neighbour. this was a testimonie of yelding in Israel.

8   Booz therfore said to his kinseman: Take of thy shoe. Which immediatly he loosed from his foote.

9   But to the ancientes, and the whole people he said: You are witnesses this day, that I haue purchased al thinges which were Elimelechs; and Chelions and Mahalons, Noemi deliuering them:

10   and haue taken in mariage Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahalon, that I may rayse vp the name of the deceased in his inheritance, lest his name be abolished out of his familie and brethren and people. You, I say, are witnesses of this thing.

11   Al the people that was in the gate answered, and the ancientes: We are witnesses: Our Lord make this woman, which entereth into thy house, as Rachel, and Lia, which

Booz. builded the house of Israel: that she may be an example of vertue in Ephrata, and may haue a famous name in Bethlehem:

12   and that thy house may be, as the house of Phares, whom Thamar bare to Iudas, of the seede which our Lord shal geue thee of this yong woman.

13   Booz therfore tooke Ruth, and had her to wife: and went in vnto her, and our Lord gaue her to conceiue, and to beare a sonne.

14   And the wemen said to Noemi: Blessed be our Lord, which hath not suffered that there should fayle a successor of thy familie: that his name should be called in Israel.

15   And thou shouldest haue one that may comfort thy soule, and cherish thy old age. For of thy daughter in law is he borne, which wil loue thee: and much better is she to thee, then if thou hadst seuen sonnes.

16   And Noemi taking the child put it in her bosome, and did the office of a nource and of one that should carie him.

17   And the wemen her neighbours congratulating her, and saying: There is a sonne borne to Noemi: called his name Obed: this is ^note the father of Isai, the father of Dauid.

18   These are the generations of Phares: Phares begat Esron,

19   Esron begat Aram, Aram begat Aminadab,

20   Aminadab begat Nahasson, Nahasson begat Salmon,

21   Salmon begat Booz, Booz begat Obed,

22   Obed begat Isai. Isai begat Dauid. THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKES OF KINGES AND PARALIPPOMENON IN GENERAL. ^note After the booke of Iudges (wherunto Ruth is annexed) rightly folow the bookes of Kinges: signifying that after the general Iudgement cometh the euerlasting Kingdome. As venerable Beda expoundeth this connexion of bookes, wherin he also explicateth manie other Mysteries of Christ & the Church præfigured in these histories. ^note Likewise S. Gregorie teacheth that besides the historical & moral sense expressed in the simplicitie of the letter, an other mystical vnderstanding is to be sought in the height of the Allegorie. In confirmation wherof he citeth S. Augustin and S. Hierom; who say, that Elcana his two wiues signified the Synagogue of the Iewes, and the Church of Christ: & that the death of Heli & Saul, with translation of

Priesthood to Samuel and Sadoch, and of the Kingdome, to Dauid and his successors, præfigured the new Priesthood, and new Kingdome of Christ the old ceasing which were shadowes therof. So these two great Doctors S. Gregorie and S. Beda, insisting in the steppes of other lerned holie. Fathers, that had gone before them, expound these histories not only historically but also mystically. The historie first setteth forth the changing of the forme of gouernment from Iudges to Kinges: and then at large what Kinges did reigne ouer the Hebrew people, as wel in one intire Realme, as ouer the same people diuided into two kingdomes; their more principal Actes; their good and euil behauiour; also the prosperitie, declinations, and final captiuities of both the Kingdomes. ^note Al which is conteined in foure bookes of Kinges, with other two partly repeting that was saied before, but especially supplying thinges omitted in the whole sacred historie from the beginning of the world, called Paralippomenon. The two first are also called the Bookes of Samuel, though he writ not one of them wholly, for he died before the historie of the former ended; but they goe both vnder his name, because he annointed the two first Kinges, and writ a great part of their Actes. ^note wherto the rest was added either by Dauid and Salomon, as some thinke, or by Nathan and Gad, as is probably gathered, 1. Paralip. 29. v. 29. The authors also of the third and fourth bookes of Kinges, and of the two of Paralippomenon are vncertaine; yet al haue euer bene receiued and held for Canonical Scripture.

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