would you thereforewaituntilthey were grown?Would you thereforerefrainfrom marrying?No,my daughters;for it is harderfor me thanfor you, for the handof the LORDhas goneforthagainst me."
Then Judahsaidto his daughter-in-lawTamar,"Remaina widowin your father'shouseuntilmy sonShelahgrowsup"; for he thought,"[I am afraid] that he toomay dielike his brothers."So Tamarwentand livedin her father'shouse.
"Pityme, pityme, O you my friends,For the handof Godhas struckme.
For dayand nightYour handwas heavyupon me; My vitalitywas drainedaway [as] with the feverheatof summer.Selah.
For Your arrowshave sunkdeepinto me, And Your handhas presseddownon me.
"Moreoverthe handof the LORDwas against them, to destroythem from withinthe campuntilthey all perished.
Whereverthey went,the handof the LORDwas against them for evil,as the LORDhad spokenand as the LORDhad swornto them, so that they were severelydistressed.
"Return,my daughters!Go,for I amtoooldto havea husband.IfI saidI havehope,if I should evenhavea husbandtonightand alsobearsons,
And they liftedup their voicesand weptagain;and Orpahkissedher mother-in-law,but Ruthclungto her.
"I wentout full,but the LORDhas broughtme backempty.Whydo you callme Naomi,since the LORDhas witnessedagainst me and the Almightyhas afflictedme?"
They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesand said,"Sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it returnto its own place,sothat it will not killus and our people."For there was a deadlyconfusionthroughoutthe city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.
