In the days when the judges ruled, there was famine in the land. So, a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man's name was Elimelek, his wife's name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.Now Elimelek, Naomi's...  Read More

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my b...  Read More

The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What about this awful crime that was committed among you? Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel."But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.  . . . At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns...  Read More

In those days Israel had no king. Now a Levite . . . took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.   . . . She left him and went back to her parents' home in Bethlehem . . .  After she had been there for four months, her husband went to her to persuade her to return. . . . Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman's father, said . . .  "Spend ...  Read More

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. . . . When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; He brought me into a spacious place.The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?The LORD is with me; He is my helper. I look in triumph over my enemies.It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. I was pushed back and about to fall, but...  Read More

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!  . . . The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. . . . "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I wi...  Read More