Study Desk

would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me."

But Ruth replied: "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

Boaz replied, "I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before.

"My lord," she said, "may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls."

Rather, pull out for her some stalks from the bundles and leave them for her to gather. Do not rebuke her."

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "My daughter, it is good for you to work with his young women, so that nothing will happen to you in another field."

One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek a place for you, that it may be well with you?

"Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she replied. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer."

And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.

When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.

And she said, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"

"Wait, my daughter," said Naomi, "until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today."

So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself."

He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief."

So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."

I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,

I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.