⁸ “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment^(A) over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant^(B) with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.^(C)

² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

⁹ “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment^(A) over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer^[a](B) of our family.”

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(A)

⁶ “‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”^[a](A)

God’s Love for Israel

²² For the sake^(A) of his great name^(B) the Lord will not reject^(C) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(D) you his own.

⁶ For you are a people holy^(A) to the Lord your God.^(B) The Lord your God has chosen^(C) you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.^(D)

⁷ The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous^(E) than other peoples, for you were the fewest^(F) of all peoples.^{(G) 8} But it was because the Lord loved^(H) you and kept the oath he swore^(I) to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand^(J) and redeemed^(K) you from the land of slavery,^(L) from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.