Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Psalm of David.
Aleph
1 ¶ Do not be angry with the evildoers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb.
Beth
3 Wait in the LORD and do good; live in the land and uphold the truth.
4 In the same manner delight thyself in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.
Gimel
5 Turn thy way unto the LORD and wait in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy uprightness as the noonday.
Daleth
7 ¶ Be silent before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not be angry with him who prospers in his way, with the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
He
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath: let not thy wrath in any wise cause you to become evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait for the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Vau
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Zain
12 The wicked plots against the just and gnashes upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
He
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy and to slay such as are of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bow shall be broken.
Tet
16 A little that a righteous man has is better than the many riches of the sinners.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the days when the judges governed that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the fields of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem of Judah. And they came into the fields of Moab and continued there.
3 And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons,
4 who took wives for themselves of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth; and they dwelt there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion both died also; and the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 ¶ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, to return from the fields of Moab, for she had heard in the field of Moab how the LORD had visited his people to give them bread.
7 Therefore she went forth out of the place where she had been and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to thy mother’s house; the LORD deal with you in mercy as ye have dealt with the dead and with me.
9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi replied, Go back, my daughters; why must ye go with me? Do I have more sons in my womb that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn, my daughters, and go back, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I should say, I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,
13 should ye tarry for them until they are grown? Should ye stay without husbands because of them? No, my daughters, for I have greater bitterness than you because the hand of the LORD has come out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth said, Do not intreat me to leave thee or to return from following after thee, for wherever thou goest, I will go; and wherever thou shalt lodge, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.
17 Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried; let the LORD do so unto me and let him give unto me that only death shall part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was courageous to go with her, then she left off speaking to her.
1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, our brother, unto Philemon, our dearly beloved and fellowlabourer,
2 And to our beloved sister, Apphia, and Archippus, our fellowsoldier and to the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} in thy house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus and toward all saints;
6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual for the knowledge of all the good that is in you by Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy charity because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 ¶ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is expedient,
9 yet for the sake of charity I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 who in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now is profitable to thee and to me,
12 whom I send again unto thee; therefore, receive him, as you would receive me.
13 I desired to retain him with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel,
14 but I did not want to do anything without thy counsel, that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 Perhaps for this, he departed from you for a season, that thou should have him again forever,
16 not now as a slave, but above a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord.
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has wronged thee or owes thee anything, put that on my account;
19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Therefore, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord, that thou might refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 In the same manner prepare me also a lodging; for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee.
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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