Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Implored to Avenge His People.

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until the morning, but got up before anyone could recognize another; Boaz said, “^[a]Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor [last night].” ¹⁵ He also said, “Give me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” So Ruth held it and he measured out six measures of barley [into it] and placed it on her. And she went into the city. ¹⁶ When she came home, her mother-in-law said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And Ruth told her everything that the man had done for her. ¹⁷ She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, and he said to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” ¹⁸ Then Naomi said, “Sit and wait, my daughter, until you learn how this matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”

The Marriage of Ruth

4 Then Boaz went up to the city gate [where business and legal matters were settled] and sat down, and then the close relative (redeemer) of whom Boaz had spoken came by. He said to him, “Come over here, ^[b]friend, and sit down.” So he came and sat down. ² Then Boaz took ten men from the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” And they sat down. ³ He said to the closest relative (redeemer), “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, must sell the plot of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. ⁴ So I thought to let you hear of it, saying, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, then tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am [next of kin] after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” ⁵ Then Boaz said, “The day that you buy the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance.” ⁶ The closest relative (redeemer) said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because [by marrying a Moabitess] I would ^[c]jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption (purchase) yourself, because I cannot redeem it.”^(A)

⁹ A widow is to be put on the list [to receive regular assistance] only if she is over sixty years of age, [having been] the wife of one man, ¹⁰ and has a reputation for good deeds; [she is eligible] if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints (God’s people), if she has assisted the distressed, and has devoted herself to doing good in every way. ¹¹ But refuse [to enroll the] younger widows, for when they feel their natural desires in disregard of Christ, they wish to marry again, ¹² and so they incur condemnation for having set aside their ^[a]previous pledge. ¹³ Now at the same time, they also learn to be idle as they go from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and ^[b]busybodies [meddlers in things that do not concern them], talking about things they should not mention. ¹⁴ So I want younger widows to get married, have children, manage their households, and not give opponents of the faith any occasion for slander. ¹⁵ Some [widows] have already turned away [from the faith] to follow Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has [dependent] widows [in her household], ^[c]she must assist them [according to her ability]; and the church must not be burdened [with them], so that it may assist those who are truly widows [those who are all alone and are dependent].