Saturday, 27 July

1.   Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2.   The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion––Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3.   Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4.   Now they took wives 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.   Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. 6.   Then she arose with her daughters–in–law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. 7.   Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters–in–law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8.   And Naomi said to her two daughters–in–law, "Go, return each to her mother’s house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9.   "The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10.   And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11.   But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12.   "Turn back, my daughters, go––for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13.   "would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!" 14.   Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother–in–law, but Ruth clung to her. 15.   And she said, "Look, your sister–in–law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister–in–law." 16.   But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17.   Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." 18.   When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. 19.   Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, " Is this Naomi?" 20.   But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21.   "I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" 22.   So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter–in–law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

1.   "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2.   To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3.   To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." 4.   And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. 5.   Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6.   But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. 7.   Instead of your shame you shall have double honor , And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8.   "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. 9.   Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed." 10.   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11.   For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

1.   For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2.   The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. 3.   You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. 4.   You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. 5.   For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. 6.   I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7.   And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8.   The LORD has sworn by His right hand And by the arm of His strength: "Surely I will no longer give your grain As food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, For which you have labored. 9.   But those who have gathered it shall eat it, And praise the LORD; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts." 10.   Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples! 11.   Indeed the LORD has proclaimed To the end of the world: "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.’" 12.   And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

1.   Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2.   To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3.   As I urged you when I went into Macedonia––remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4.   nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5.   Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6.   from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7.   desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8.   But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9.   knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10.   for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11.   according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. 12.   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13.   although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14.   And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15.   This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16.   However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17.   Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18.   This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19.   having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20.   of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.