Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

God of Vengeance, Shine Forth

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “^(A)Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵ And he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and placed it on her. Then ^[a]she went into the city. ¹⁶ Then she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “^[b]How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. ¹⁷ She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty.’” ¹⁸ Then she said, “Sit, then, my daughter, until you know how the matter falls into place; for the man will not remain quiet until he has finished the matter today.”

Ruth Becomes Boaz’ Wife

4 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, ^(B)the kinsman redeemer of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, ^[c]my fellow, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. ² Then he took ten men of the ^(C)elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. ³ Then he said to the kinsman redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the fields of Moab, has to sell the portion of the field ^(D)which belonged to our brother Elimelech. ⁴ So I thought to uncover this matter in your hearing, saying, ‘^(E)Acquire it before those who are sitting here and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if no one redeems it, tell me that I may know; for ^(F)there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” ⁵ Then Boaz said, “On the day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also ^[d]acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the one who had died, in order ^(G)to raise up the name of the one who had died, on behalf of his inheritance.” ^6 (H)So the kinsman redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

⁹ A widow is to be ^(A)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(B)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(C)good works; if she has brought up children, if she has ^(D)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(E)has washed the ^[a]saints’ feet, if she has ^(F)assisted those in affliction, if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel ^(G)sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous ^[b]pledge. ¹³ And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house. And not merely idle, but also ^(H)gossips and ^(I)busybodies, talking about ^(J)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(K)married, bear children, ^(L)keep house, and ^(M)give the enemy no opportunity for reviling, ¹⁵ for some ^(N)have already turned aside after ^(O)Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman ^(P)has widows, she must ^(Q)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are ^(R)widows indeed.