Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
The Marriage of Ruth
4 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, (A)the [a]close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, [b]friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten men of the (B)elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the [c]closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land (C)which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 So I thought to [d]inform you, saying, ‘(D)Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if [e]not, tell me that I may know; for (E)there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order (F)to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6 (G)The [f]closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would [g]jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now this was (H)the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel. 8 So the [h]closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so (I)that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the [i]court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”
6 For while we were still (A)helpless, (B)at the right time (C)Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; [a]though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God (D)demonstrates (E)His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, (F)Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified [b](G)by His blood, we shall be saved (H)from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were (I)enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [c](J)by His life. 11 (K)And not only this, [d]but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received (L)the reconciliation.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.