Early English Books Online 2
 All Digital Collections  spacer  Login  
 
Add to bookbag
Author: Bernard, Richard, 1568-1641.
Title: Ruths recompence: or a commentarie vpon the booke of Ruth wherein is shewed her happy calling out of her owne country and people, into the fellowship and society of the Lords inheritance: her vertuous life and holy carriage amongst them: and then, her reward in Gods mercy, being by an honourable marriage made a mother in Israel: deliuered in seuerall sermons, the briefe summe whereof is now published for the benefit of the Church of God. By Richard Bernard ...
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these keyboarded and encoded editions of the works for educational and research purposes. These transcriptions are believed to be in the public domain in the United States; however, if you decide to use any of these transcriptions, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact eebotcp-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact LibraryIT-info@umich.edu. This statement does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Print source: Ruths recompence: or a commentarie vpon the booke of Ruth wherein is shewed her happy calling out of her owne country and people, into the fellowship and society of the Lords inheritance: her vertuous life and holy carriage amongst them: and then, her reward in Gods mercy, being by an honourable marriage made a mother in Israel: deliuered in seuerall sermons, the briefe summe whereof is now published for the benefit of the Church of God. By Richard Bernard ...
Bernard, Richard, 1568-1641.
London: Printed by Felix Kyngston, and are to be sold by Simon Waterson, 1628.
Subject terms:
Bible. -- O.T. -- Ruth -- Commentaries.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68568.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
View entire text
title page
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND VERY VERTVOVS LADY, the Lady FRANCIS, Countesse of Warwick, Dowager, the increase of all sauing Graces, and the fruition of that eternall blisse with the Saints in glory, is hear∣tily wished.
RVTHS Recompence: OR, A COMMENTARIE VPON THE BOOKE OF RVTH.
CHAP. I.
Verse 1. And it came to passe in the dayes when the Iudges ruled, that there was a famine in the Land, and a certaine man of Bethlehem Iudah went to soiourne in the Countrey of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sonnes.
Verse 2. And the name of the man was Elime∣lech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sonnes, Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Iudah: and they came into the countrey of Moah, and continued there.
Vers. 3. And Elimelech Naomies husband dyed, and shee was left, and her two sonnes.
Vers. 4. And they tooke them wiues of the women of Moab, the name of the one was Orpha, and the name of the other Ruth, and they dwelled there a∣bout tenne yeeres.
Verse 5. And Mahlon and Chilion dyed also both of them, and the woman was left of her two sonnes, and of her husband.
Verse. 6. Then she 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.
Verse 7. Wherefore shee went forth out of the place where shee was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on their way to returne vnto the Land of Iudah.
Verse 8. And Naomi said vnto her two daugh∣ters in law, Goe, returne each to her mothers house: the Lord deale kindly with you, as you haue dealt with the dead and with me.
Verse 9. The Lord grant you, that you may find rest each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lift vp their voice and wept.
Verse 10. And they said vnto her, Surely wee will returne with thee vnto thy people.
Verse 11. And Naomi said, Turne againe, my daughters: Why will you goe with me? Are there yet more sonnes in my wombe, that they may bee your husbands?
Verse 12. Turne againe, my daughters, goe your way, for I am too old to haue an husband: if I should say, I haue hope, if I should haue an husband also to night, and should also beare sonnes:
Verse 13. Would yee tarry for them, till they were growne? would yee stay for them from hauing hus∣bands? nay, my daughters: for it grieueth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out a∣gainst me.
Verse 14. And they lift vp their voice and wept againe: and Orpha kissed her mother in law, but Ruth claue vnto her.
Verse 15. And shee said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people, and vnto her gods: returne thou after thy sister in law.
Verse 16. And Ruth said, Intreat me 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.
Verse 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord doe so to me and more also, if ought but death part thee and mee.
Verse. 18. When shee saw that shee was stedfastly minded to goe with her, then she left off speaking vnto her.
Verse 19. So they two went vntill they came to Bethlehem: and it came to passe, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the Citie was moued about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
Verse 20. And shee said vnto them, Call mee not Naomi; call me Marah: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Verse 21. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home againe empty: Why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
Verse 22. So Naomi returned; and Ruth the Moabitesse her daughter in law with her, which retur∣ned out of the Countrey of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of Barley haruest.
CHAP. II.
Verse 1. And Naomi had a kinsman of her hus∣bands, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Eli∣melech, and his name was Boaz.
Verse 2. And Ruth the Moabitesse said vnto Naomi, Let me now goe to the field, and gleane eares of corne after him, in whose sight I shall find grace. And shee said vnto her, Goe, my daughter.
Verse 3. And shee went, and came and gleaned in the field after the Reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Verse. 4. And behold, Boaz came from Beth∣lehem, and said vnto the Reapers, The Lord bee with you. And they answered him, The Lord blesse thee.
Verse 5. Then said Boaz vnto his seruant, that was set ouer the Reapers, Whose Damosell is this?
Verse 6. And the seruant that was set ouer the Rea∣pers, answered & said, It is the Moabitesse damosell that came backe with Naomi out of the countrey of Moab.
Verse 7. And shee said, I pray you, let me gleane and gather after the Reapers, amongst the sheaues: so she came, and hath continued euen from the morning, vntill now, that shee tarried a little in the house.
Verse 8. Then said Boaz vnto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Goe not to gleane in another field, neither goe from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
Verse 9. Let thine eyes be on the field that they doe reape, and goe thou after them: Haue not I charged the yong men, that they should not touch thee? And when thou art a thirst, goe vnto the vessels, and drinke of that which the yong men haue drawne.
Verse 10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed her selfe to the ground, and said vnto him, Why haue I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Verse 11. And Boaz answered and said vnto her, It hath fully beene shewed me, all that thou hast done vnto thy mother in law, since the death of thine hus∣band; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mo∣ther, and the land of thy natiuity, and art come vnto a people, which thou knewest not heretofore.
Verse 12. The Lord recompence thy worke, and a full reward be giuen thee of the Lord God of Israel, vnder whose wings thou art come to trust.
Verse 13. Then she said, Let me find fauour in thy sight, my Lord, for thou hast comforted mee, and for that thou hast spoken friendly vnto thine hand-maid, though I be not like vnto one of thine hand-maidens.
Verse 14. And Boaz said vnto her, At meale time come thou hither, and eate of the bread, and dip thy morsell in the vineger. And shee sate besides the Reapers: and he reached her parched corne, and shee did eate, and was sufficed, and left.
Vers. 15. And when she was risen vp to gleane, Boaz commanded his yong men, saying, Let her gleane euen among the sheaues, and reproach her not.
Vers. 16. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leaue them, that she may gleane them, and rebuke her not.
Vers. 17. So she gleaned in the field vntill euen, and beat out that she had gleaned; and it was about an Epha of Barley.
Vers. 18. And shee tooke it vp, and went into the citie; and her mother in law saw what shee had glea∣ned; and she brought forth, and gaue to her that shee had reserued, after she was sufficed.
Verse 19. And her mother in law said vnto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he that did take know∣ledge of thee. And shee shewed her mother in law, with whom shee had wrought, and said, The mans name with whom I wrought to day, is Boaz.
Verse 20. And Naomi said vnto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindnesse to the liuing & to the dead. And Naomi said vnto her, The man is neere of kinne vnto vs, one of our next kinsmen.
Verse 21. And Ruth the Moabitesse said, He said vnto me also, Thou shalt keepe fast by my yong men, vntill they haue ended all my haruest.
Verse 22. And Naomi said vnto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou goe out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in another field.
Verse 23. So shee kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to gleane, vnto the end of Barley haruest and of Wheat haruest, and dwelt with her mother in law.
CHAP. III.
Verse 1. Then Naomi, her mother in law, said vnto her, My daughter, shall I not seeke rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Verse 2. And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing-floore.
Verse 3. Wash thy selfe therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment vpon thee, and get thee downe to the floore: but make not thy selfe knowne to the man, vntill he shall haue done eating and drinking.
Verse 4. And it shall be when he lyeth downe, thou shalt marke the place where he shall lye, and thou shalt goe in, and vncouer his feet, and lay thee downe, and he will tell thee what thou shalt doe.
Verse 5. And shee said vnto her, All that thou sayest vnto mee, I will doe.
Verse 6. And shee went downe vnto the floore, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
Verse 7. And when Boaz had eaten and drun∣ken, and his heart was merry, he went to lye downe at the end of the heape of corne: and shee came softly, and vncouered his feet, and laid her downe.
Verse 8. And it came to passe at mid-night, that the man was afraid, and turned himselfe; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
Verse 9. And he said, Who art thou? And shee answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread there∣fore thy skirt ouer thine handmaid, for thou art a neere kinsman.
Verse 10. And hee said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kind∣nesse in the latter end, then at the beginning, in as much as thou followest not young men, whether poore or rich.
Verse 11. And now, my daughter, feare not, I will doe to thee all thou requirest: for all the Citie of my people doth know, that thou art a vertuous woman.
Verse 12. And now it is true, that I am thy neere kinsman: howbeit, there is a kinsman neerer then I.
Verse 13. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if hee will performe vnto thee the part of a kinsman, well, let him doe the kinsmans part: but if hee will not doe the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I doe the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liueth: lie downe vntill the morning.
Verse 14. And shee lay at his feet vntill the morning: and shee rose vp before one could know ano∣ther: for hee said, Let it not bee knowne, that a woman came into the floore.
Verse 15. Also hee said, Bring the vaile that thou hast vpon thee, and hold it. And when shee held it, hee measured six measures of Barley, and laid it on her: and shee went into the Citie.
Verse 16. And when shee came to her mother in law, shee said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done vnto her.
Verse 17. And shee said, These sixe measures of Barley gaue hee mee: for hee said to mee, Goe not emptie vnto thy mother in law.
Verse 18. Then said shee, Sit still, my daughter, vntill thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not bee in rest, vntill hee haue finished the thing this day.
CHAP. IIII.
Verse 1. Then Boaz went vp to the gate, and sate him downe there: and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake, came by, vnto whom he said, Ho, such a one: turne aside, sit downe heere. And he turned aside and sate downe.
Verse 2. And hee tooke ten men of the Elders of the Citie, and said, Sit yee downe heere. And they sate downe.
Verse 3. And hee said vnto the kinsman, Na∣omi that is come againe out of the countrey of Moab, selleth a parcell of land which was our brother Elime∣lechs.
Verse 4. And I thought to aduertise thee, say∣ing, Buy it before the Inhabitants, and before the El∣ders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it; but if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell me that I may know: for there is none to redeeme it, besides thee, and I am after thee. And hee said, I will redeeme it.
Verse 5. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitesse, the wife of the dead, to raise vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritance.
Verse 6. And the Kinsman said, I cannot re∣deeme it for my selfe; lest I marre mine owne inhe∣ritance: redeeme thou my right to thy selfe: for I can∣not redeeme it.
Verse 7. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel, concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirme all things: a man plucked off his shoo, and gaue it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Verse 8. Therefore the kinsman said vnto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoo.
Verse 9. And Boaz said vnto the Elders, and vnto all the people, Yee are witnesses this day▪ that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chilions and Mahlons, of the hand of Naomi.
Verse 10. Moreouer, Ruth the Moabitesse, the wife of Mahlon, haue I purchased to be my wife, to raise vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: yee are witnesses this day.
Verse 11. And all the people that were in the Gate, and the Elders said, We are witnesses: The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house, like Ra∣chel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: And doe thou worthily in Ephratah, and be fa∣mous in Bethlehem.
Verse 12. And let thy house bee like the house of Pharez (whom Tamar bare vnto Iudah) of the seed, which the Lord shall giue thee, of this young wo∣man.
Verse 13. So Boaz tooke Ruth, and shee was his wife: And when hee went in vnto her, the Lord gaue her conception, and shee bare a sonne.
Verse 14. And the women said vnto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may bee famous in Israel.
Verse 15. And he shall be vnto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loueth thee, which is better to thee thenseuen sonnes, hath borne him.
Verse 16. And Naomi tooke the child, and laid it in her bosome, and became nurse vnto it.
Verse 17. And the women her Neighbours gaue it a name, saying, There is a sonne borne to Naomi: and they called his name Obed; he is the Father of lesse, the Father of Dauid.
Verse 18. Now these are the generations of Pha∣rez; Pharez begat Ram.