Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²⁰ The Lord has paid me because of my being right with Him. Because of my clean hands He has paid me. ²¹ For I have kept the ways of the Lord. And I have not sinned by turning from my God. ²² All His Laws are in front of me. I have not set His Laws aside. ²³ Before Him I was without blame. And I have kept myself from sin. ²⁴ So the Lord has paid me back for being right with Him, and for my hands being clean in His eyes.

²⁵ To the faithful, You show Yourself faithful. To those without blame, You show Yourself without blame. ²⁶ With the pure, You show Yourself pure. With the sinful You show Yourself to be against them. ²⁷ You save those who are suffering, but You bring low those who have pride in their eyes. ²⁸ You make my lamp bright. The Lord my God lights my darkness. ²⁹ With Your help I can go against many soldiers. With my God I can jump over a wall.

³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord has stood the test. He is a covering for all who go to Him for a safe place.

⁸ The man was surprised late in the night. He turned and saw that a woman was lying at his feet. ⁹ He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth, your woman servant. Spread your covering over me. For you are of our family.” ¹⁰ And Boaz said, “May the Lord bring good to you, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than your first by not going after young men, with or without riches. ¹¹ Now my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a good woman. ¹² It is true that I am of your family. But there is one closer than I. ¹³ Stay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

¹⁴ So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor.” ¹⁵ And he said, “Bring the coat you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he loaded her with six jars full of grain. Then she went into the city. ¹⁶ When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her. ¹⁷ She said, “He gave me these six jars full of grain. For he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law with empty hands.’” ¹⁸ Naomi said, “Wait until you know what is going to happen, my daughter. For the man will not rest until the thing is decided upon today.”

Love—the Greatest Law

³¹ After Judas went out, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is now honored and God has been honored in Him. ³² If God is honored in Him, God will also honor Him in Himself right now. ³³ Little children, I will be with you only a little while. You will look for Me. I say to you what I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come!’ ³⁴ I give you a new Law. You are to love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. ³⁵ If you love each other, all men will know you are My followers.”