Thursday in Season after Pentecost

18Verse 18. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her. 19Verse 19. So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women of the town exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20Verse 20. “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. 21Verse 21. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.” 22Verse 22. So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

1Verse 1. “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2Verse 2. If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. 3Verse 3. But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft. 4Verse 4. If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession— whether ox or donkey or sheep— he must pay back double. 5Verse 5. If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard. 6Verse 6. If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution. 7Verse 7. If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. 8Verse 8. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property. 9Verse 9. In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor. 10Verse 10. If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching, 11Verse 11. an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution. 12Verse 12. But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner. 13Verse 13. If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass. 14Verse 14. If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution. 15Verse 15. If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.