Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

3 After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.

² This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.

³ Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.

⁴ And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.

⁵ She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.

⁶ And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.

⁷ And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.

¹⁷ And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased, and were multiplied in Egypt,

¹⁸ Till another king arose in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

¹⁹ This same dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be kept alive.

²⁰ At the same time was Moses born, and he was acceptable to God: who was nourished three months in his father's house.

²¹ And when he was exposed, Pharao's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

²² And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and in his deeds.

²³ And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

²⁴ And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him; and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury.

²⁵ And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand would save them; but they understood it not.

²⁶ And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at strife; and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren; why hurt you one another?

²⁷ But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us?

²⁸ What, wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian?

²⁹ And Moses fled upon this word, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons.