Ruth 1:1-18

[1]In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. [2]The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. [3]But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. [4]These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, [5]both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

[6]Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food. [7]So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. [8]But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. [9]The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband." Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. [10]They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." [11]But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?
[12]Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband.
Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, [13]would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me."
[14]Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

[15]So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." [16]But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. [17]Where you die, I will die - there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"
[18]When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Psalm 96

[1] O sing to the LORD a new song;   

         sing to the LORD, all the earth.   

[2] Sing to the LORD, bless his name;   

         tell of his salvation from day to day.   

[3] Declare his glory among the nations,   

         his marvelous works among all the peoples.   

[4] For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;   

         he is to be revered above all gods.   

[5] For all the gods of the peoples are idols,   

         but the LORD made the heavens.   

[6] Honor and majesty are before him;   

         strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.   

[7] Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,   

         ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.   

[8] Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;   

         bring an offering, and come into his courts.   

[9] Worship the LORD in holy splendor;   

         tremble before him, all the earth.

[10] Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!   

         The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.   

         He will judge the peoples with equity."   

[11] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;   

         let the sea roar, and all that fills it;   

[12] let the field exult, and everything in it.   

    Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy   

[13] before the LORD; for he is coming,   

         for he is coming to judge the earth.   

    He will judge the world with righteousness,   

         and the peoples with his truth.

Luke 10:25-37

[25]Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [26]He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" [27]He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." [28]And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

[29]But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
[30]Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. [31]Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32]So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33]But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. [34]He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35]The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' [36]Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" [37]He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Psalm 9

[1]   I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;  
          I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  
[2]   I will be glad and exult in you;  
          I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

[3]   When my enemies turned back,  
          they stumbled and perished before you.  
[4]   For you have maintained my just cause;  
          you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.

[5]   You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;  
          you have blotted out their name forever and ever.  
[6]   The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;  
          their cities you have rooted out;  
          the very memory of them has perished.

[7]   But the LORD sits enthroned forever,  
          he has established his throne for judgment.  
[8]   He judges the world with righteousness;  
          he judges the peoples with equity.

[9]   The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,  
          a stronghold in times of trouble.  
[10]  And those who know your name put their trust in you,  
          for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

[11  ]Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion.  
          Declare his deeds among the peoples.  
[12]  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;  
          he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

[13]  Be gracious to me, O LORD.  
          See what I suffer from those who hate me;  
          you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,  
[14]  so that I may recount all your praises,  
          and, in the gates of daughter Zion,  
          rejoice in your deliverance.

[15]  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;  
          in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.  
[16]  The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment;  
          the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.            
Higgaion.  Selah

[17]  The wicked shall depart to Sheol,  
          all the nations that forget God.

[18]  For the needy shall not always be forgotten,  
          nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

[19]  Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;  
          let the nations be judged before you.  
[20]  Put them in fear, O LORD;  
          let the nations know that they are only human.                    
            Selah

Hebrews 6:13-20

[13]When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, [14]saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." [15]And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. [16]Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute.

[17]In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, [18]so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. [19]We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, [20]where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 124

[1]   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side  
          -- let Israel now say --  
[2]   if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,  
          when our enemies attacked us,  
[3]   then they would have swallowed us up alive,  
          when their anger was kindled against us;  
[4]   then the flood would have swept us away,  
          the torrent would have gone over us;  
[5]   then over us would have gone  
          the raging waters.

[6]   Blessed be the LORD,  
          who has not given us  
          as prey to their teeth.  
[7]   We have escaped like a bird  
          from the snare of the fowlers;  
     the snare is broken,  
          and we have escaped.

[8]   Our help is in the name of the LORD,  
          who made heaven and earth.

Matthew 28:16-20

[16]Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17]When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18]And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19]Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20]and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."