Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³ Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. ¹⁴ The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons,^(A) has given birth to him.” ¹⁶ Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. ¹⁷ The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹² as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.^[a](A) Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. ¹³ But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth,^(B) where righteousness dwells.^(C)

Conclusion

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.^{(D) 15} Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.^{(E) 16} He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction,^(F) as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,^(G) so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge^(H) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.^[b](I)