Boaz Marries Ruth

4 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate^(A) and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer^[a](B) he had mentioned^(C) came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

² Boaz took ten of the elders^(D) of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.^{(E) 3} Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek.^{(F) 4} I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you^[b] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you,^(G) and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

⁵ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite,^(H) the^[c] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”^(I)

⁶ At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem^(J) it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”^(K)

⁷ (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption^(L) and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal^(M) and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions^(N) in Israel.)^(O)

⁸ So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.^(P)

⁹ Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses^(Q) that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite,^(R) Mahlon’s widow, as my wife,^(S) in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown.^(T) Today you are witnesses!^(U)”

¹¹ Then the elders and all the people at the gate^(V) said, “We are witnesses.^(W) May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah,^(X) who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah^(Y) and be famous in Bethlehem.^{(Z) 12} Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez,^(AA) whom Tamar^(AB) bore to Judah.”

Naomi Gains a Son

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive,^(AC) and she gave birth to a son.^{(AD) 14} The women^(AE) said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord,^(AF) who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.^(AG) May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law,^(AH) who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons,^(AI) has given him birth.”

¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. ¹⁷ The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse,^(AJ) the father of David.^(AK)

The Genealogy of David^(AL)

¹⁸ This, then, is the family line of Perez^(AM):

Psalm 104

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(A) and eagerly desire^(B) gifts of the Spirit,^(C) especially prophecy.^{(D) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a](E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(F) they utter mysteries^(G) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(H) encouraging^(I) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(J) edifies^(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(L) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(N)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(O) or knowledge^(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(Q) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(R) 9} So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(S) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(T) try to excel in those that build up^(U) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(V) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(W) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen”^(Z) to your thanksgiving,^(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(AB)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(AC)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(AD) In regard to evil be infants,^(AE) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(AF) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(AH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(AI) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(AJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(AK)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(AL) When you come together, each of you^(AM) has a hymn,^(AN) or a word of instruction,^(AO) a revelation, a tongue^(AP) or an interpretation.^(AQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(AR) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(AS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(AT) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(AU) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(AV) but of peace^(AW)—as in all the congregations^(AX) of the Lord’s people.^(AY)

³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(AZ) but must be in submission,^(BA) as the law^(BB) says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[g]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(BC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(BD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(BE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(BF) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(BG) to prophesy,^(BH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(BI) way.