Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
37 1 This Psalm containeth exhortation and consolation for the weak, that are grieved at the prosperity of the wicked, and the affliction of the godly. 7 For how prosperously soever the wicked do live for the time, he doth affirm their felicity to be vain and transitory, because they are not in the favor of God, but in the end they are destroyed as his enemies. 11 And how miserably that the righteous seemeth to live in the world, yet his end is peace, and he is in the favor of God, he is delivered from the wicked, and preserved.
A Psalm of David.
1 Fret not [a]thyself because of the wicked men, neither be envious for the evildoers.
2 For they shall soon be [b]cut down like grass, and shall wither as the green herb.
3 [c]Trust thou in the Lord and do good: dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed assuredly:
4 And delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee thine heart’s desire.
5 [d]Commit thy way unto the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy [e]judgment as the noon day.
7 Wait patiently upon the Lord, and hope in him: fret not thyself for him [f]which prospereth in his way, nor for the man that bringeth his enterprises to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and leave off wrath: fret not thyself [g]also to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, and they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the land.
10 [h]Therefore yet a little while and the wicked shall not appear, and thou shalt look after his place, and he shall not be found.
11 But (A)meek men shall possess the earth, and shall have their delight in the multitude of peace.
12 [i]The wicked practiceth against the just, and gnasheth his teeth against him.
13 But the Lord shall laugh him to scorn: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn their sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 But their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 [j]A small thing unto the just man is better than great riches to the wicked and mighty.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the just men.
The Book of Ruth
1 1 Elimelech goeth with his wife and children into the land of Moab. 3 He and his sons die. 19 Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem.
1 In the time that the Judges [a]ruled, there was a dearth in the [b]land, and a man of Bethlehem [c]Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the names of his two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah: and when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
3 Then Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she remained with her two sons,
4 Which took them wives of the [d]Moabites: the one’s name was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion dieth also both twain: so the woman was left, destitute of her two sons, and of her husband.
6 ¶ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, and returned from the country of Moab: for she had heard say in the country of Moab, that the Lord had [e]visited his people, and given them bread.
7 Wherefore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on their way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you unto her own mother’s house: the Lord show favor unto you, as ye have done with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you, that you may find [f]rest, either of you in the house of her husband. And when she kissed them, they lift up their voice and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 But Naomi said, Turn again my daughters: for what cause will ye go with me? are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again my daughters: go your way: for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, and if I had an husband this night: yea, and if I had borne sons,
13 Would ye tarry for them, till they were of age? would ye be deferred for them from taking of husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieveth me [g]much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 Then they lift up their voice and wept again, and Orpah [h]kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth abode still with her.
15 And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: [i]return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to depart from thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou dwellest, I will dwell: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
17 ¶ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death depart thee and me.
18 ¶ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her.
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
1 Paul handling a base and small matter, yet according to his manner mounteth aloft unto God. 8 Sending again to Philemon his vagabond and thievish servant, he entreateth pardon for him, and very gravely preacheth of Christian equity.
1 Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and our brother Timothy, unto Philemon our dear friend, and fellow helper,
2 And to our dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:
3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I (A)give thanks to my God, making mention always of thee in my prayers,
5 (When I hear of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all Saints.)
6 That the [a]fellowship of thy faith may be made effectual, and that whatsoever good thing is in you through Christ Jesus, may be [b]known.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because by thee, brother, the Saints [c]bowels are comforted.
8 Wherefore, though I be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is convenient,
9 [d]Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and even now a prisoner for Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son (B)Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 Which in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable both to thee and to me.
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own [e]bowels,
13 Whom I would have received with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel.
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit should not be as it were of [f]necessity, but willingly.
15 It may be that he therefore [g]departed for [h]a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever,
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, even as a brother beloved, specially to me: how much more then unto thee, both in the [i]flesh and in the Lord?
17 If therefore thou count our things common, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on my accounts.
19 I Paul have written this with mine own hand: I will recompense it, albeit I do not say to thee, that thou owest moreover unto me even thine own self.
20 [j]Yea, brother, let me obtain this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.
21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote unto thee knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say,
22 Moreover also prepare me lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow helpers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.
¶ Written from Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a servant.
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