Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

127 Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD keeps the city, the keeper watches in vain.

² It is in vain for you to rise early, to lie down late, and eat the bread of sorrow; but He will surely give rest to His beloved.

³ Behold, children are the inheritance of the LORD, the fruit of the womb His reward.

⁴ As the arrows in the hand of the strong man are the children of youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man who has his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate. A song of degrees

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.”

⁷ Now this was the custom in ancient Israel concerning redeeming, changing and establishing all things: a man took off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor. And this was a sure witness in Israel.

⁸ Therefore, the kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he took off his shoe.

⁹ And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought from Naomi all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s.

¹⁰ “And moreover, I have bought Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, so that the name of the dead is not forgotten from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”

⁶ For Christ, when we were still without strength, at His time, died for the ungodly.

⁷ Doubtless, one will scarcely die for a righteous man. Although, for a good man it may be that one dare die.

⁸ But God exhibits his love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Much more, then, being justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more so (being reconciled) shall we be saved by his life.

¹¹ And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received reconciliation.