Book of Common Prayer

18 Unto the end. A psalm for David.

² The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

³ Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge.

⁴ There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard.

⁵ Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.

⁶ He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way:

⁷ His going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.

⁸ The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.

⁹ The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.

¹¹ More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

¹² For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a great reward.

¹³ Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord:

¹⁴ And from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

¹⁵ And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight. O Lord, my helper, and my redeemer.

3 After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.

² This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.

³ Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.

⁴ And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.

⁵ She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.

⁶ And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.

⁷ And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.

⁸ And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,

⁹ And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.

¹⁰ And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.

¹¹ Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman.

¹² Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.

¹³ Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.

¹⁴ So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.

¹⁵ And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,

¹⁶ And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

¹⁷ And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law.

¹⁸ And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.

4 Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared,

³ Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth.

⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving:

⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

⁶ These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto.

⁷ But avoid foolish and old wives' fables: and exercise thyself unto godliness.

⁸ For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

⁹ A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

¹⁰ For therefore we labor and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

¹¹ These things command and teach.

¹² Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity.

¹³ Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine.

¹⁴ Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.

¹⁵ Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all.

¹⁶ Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.

³¹ The same day, there came some of the Pharisees, saying to him: Depart, and get thee hence, for Herod hath a mind to kill thee.

³² And he said to them: Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I am consummated.

³³ Nevertheless I must walk to day and to morrow, and the day following, because it cannot be that a prophet perish, out of Jerusalem.

³⁴ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings, and thou wouldest not?

³⁵ Behold your house shall be left to you desolate. And I say to you, that you shall not see me till the time come, when you shall say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.