Study Desk

"My lord," she said, "you have been so kind to me, for you have comforted and encouraged your slave, although I am not like one of your female servants."

Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don't rebuke her."

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

Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, shouldn't I find security for you, so that you will be taken care of?

So he asked, "Who are you?" "I am Ruth, your slave," she replied. "Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer."

Now don't be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.

Naomi said, "My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won't rest unless he resolves this today."

But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving.

I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,

I now give the boy to the Lord . For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord ." Then he bowed in worship to the Lord there.

Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him.

Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord 's; He has set the world on them.

He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a man does not prevail by his own strength.

Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord

or for the priests' share of the sacrifices from the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling

and plunge it into the container or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.

If that man said to him, "The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself," the servant would reply, "No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don't, I'll take it by force!"

If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him, but if a man sins against the Lord , who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.