They did not treat<n id="1" /> the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) fairly in return for all the good he had done for Israel.p>

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, &#8220;Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother&#8217;s home!<n id="1" /> May the <sc>Lordsc> show<n id="2" /> you<n id="3" /> the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands<n id="4" /> and to me!<n id="5" />

He said, &#8220;May you be rewarded<n id="1" /> by the <sc>Lordsc>, my dear!<n id="2" /> This act of devotion<n id="3" /> is greater than what you did before.<n id="4" /> For you have not sought to marry<n id="5" /> one of the young men, whether rich or poor.<n id="6" />

Don&#8217;t ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the <sc>Lordsc> has cut off every one of David&#8217;s enemies from the face of the earth

Now may the <sc>Lordsc> show you true kindness!<n id="1" /> I also will reward you,<n id="2" /> because you have done this deed.

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Then David asked, &#8220;Is anyone still left from the family<n id="2" /> of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Absalom said to Hushai, &#8220;Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn&#8217;t you go with your friend?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Treat fairly<n id="1" /> the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs,<n id="2" /> because they helped me<n id="3" /> when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.p>

Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the <sc>Lordsc>. (For his loyal love endures!)<n id="1" />

I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you.<n id="1" />

and prayed:<n id="1" /> &#8220;O <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty<n id="2" /> to your servants who obey you with sincerity.<n id="3" />

He met<n id="1" /> with the people and appointed musicians to play before the <sc>Lordsc> and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: &#8220;Give thanks to the <sc>Lordsc>, for his loyal love endures.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

King Joash disregarded<n id="1" /> the loyalty his father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada&#8217;s<n id="2" /> son. As Zechariah<n id="3" /> was dying, he said, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> take notice and seek vengeance!&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The rest of the events of Hezekiah&#8217;s reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.<n id="1" />

Then I said, &#8220;Please, O <sc>LORDsc> God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant<n id="1" /> with those who love him and obey<n id="2" /> his commandments,

<p class="bodytext">Please remember me for this, O my God, and do not wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my God and for its services!p>

<p class="poetry">I have not failed to tell about your justice;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;p> <p class="poetry">I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">As for me, I will sing about your strength;p> <p class="poetry">I will praise your loyal love in the morning.p> <p class="poetry">For you are my refuge<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and my place of shelter when I face trouble.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">O God, because of your great loyal love,p> <p class="poetry">answer me with your faithful deliverance!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds,p> <p class="poetry">they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love,p> <p class="poetry">and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.<n id="1" />p>