Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
94 O LORD God, the Avenger! O God, the Avenger, show Yourself clearly!
2 Exalt Yourself, O Judge of the World, and render a reward to the proud.
3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 They babble on and speak fiercely. All the workers of iniquity boast of themselves.
5 They strike down Your people, O LORD, and trouble Your heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, “The LORD shall not see; nor will the God of Jacob regard it.”
8 Understand, you unwise among the people and you fools. When will you be wise?
9 He Who planted the ear, shall He not hear? Or, He Who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 Or, He Who chastises the nations, shall He not correct? He Who teaches man knowledge, shall He not know?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom You chastise, O LORD, and teach in Your Law,
13 so that You may give him rest from the days of evil while the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 Surely, the LORD will neither fail His people nor forsake His inheritance.
15 For judgment shall return to justice; and all the upright in heart shall follow after it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If the LORD had not helped me, my soul would have almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I say, “My foot slides.” Your mercy, O LORD, upholds me.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts, in my heart, Your comforts have rejoiced my soul.
20 Does the throne of iniquity, which forges wrong for a law, have fellowship with You?
21 They gather together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the LORD is my refuge; and my God is the Rock of my hope.
23 And He will recompense their wickedness and destroy them in their own malice. The LORD our God shall destroy them.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she arose before dawn. For he said, “Let no man know that a woman came into the floor.”
15 Also, he said, “Bring the cloak that you have on and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley and laid them on her. And she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “What happened, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done to her, and said, “He gave me these six measures of barley. For he said to me, ‘You shall not come empty to your mother-in-law.’”
17 Then she said, “My daughter, sit still until you know how things will go; for the man will not rest until he has finished the matter this same day.”
4 Then Boaz went up to the gate and sat there. And behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by. And he said, “Ho, such one! Come, sit down here.” And he turned and sat down.
2 Then he took ten men from the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” And they sat down.
3 And he said to the kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, wishes to sell a parcel of land which was our brother Elimelech’s.
4 “And I thought to tell you, saying, ‘Buy it’, before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, tell me. For I know that there is no one besides you to redeem it. And I am after you.” Then he answered, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “Whatever day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.”
6 And the kinsman answered, “I cannot redeem it; lest I destroy my own inheritance. I give my right to you, for I cannot redeem it.”
9 Do not let a widow under 60 years old be registered; who has been the wife of one husband
10 and has a reputation for good works (whether she has nourished her children, taken in strangers, washed the saints’ feet, ministered to those who were in adversity, and if she has constantly pursued every good work).
11 But refuse the younger widows. For when their desires begin to draw them away from Christ, they will marry,
12 having damnation because they have broken their first faith.
13 And also, being idle, they learn to go about from house to house. Indeed, not only are they idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things which are not necessary.
14 Therefore, I desire that the younger women marry, and bear children, and govern the house, and give no opportunity for the adversary to speak evil.
15 For some have already turned back after Satan.
16 If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, let them minister to them, and do not let the Church be charged, so that there may be enough for those who are true widows.
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