Wednesday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

Ruth 3:1-13

Verse 1. One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you? Verse 2. Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Verse 3. Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. Verse 4. When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.” Verse 5. “I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered. Verse 6. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. Verse 7. After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Verse 8. At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! Verse 9. “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. ” Verse 10. Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. Verse 11. 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. Verse 12. Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I. Verse 13. Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

PSALM

Psalm 37:1-17

Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.

For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret— it can only bring harm.

For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.

For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

SECOND READING

4:13-22

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

SECOND READING

Luke 6:17-26

Verse 17. Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. Verse 18. They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed. Verse 19. The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all. Verse 20. Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Verse 21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Verse 22. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Verse 23. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way. Verse 24. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Verse 25. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Verse 26. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.