A famine forces Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her 2 sons, who soon marry 2 Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem.
Namatay si Elimelech at naiwan kay Naomi ang kanilang dalawang anak na nagasawa ng mga dalagang Moabita na sina Orpah at Ruth. Hindi nagtagal, namatay ang kaniyang mga anak at si Naomi ay mag-isang naiwan kasama si Orpah at ruth sa isang banyagang bansa. Bumalik si Orpah sa kanyang mga magulang, ngunit si Ruth ay determinadong manatili na kasama ng kanyang biyenang babaeng si Naomi at sila'y naglakbay patungong Bethlehem.