GENESIS 47:1-12

1-2 Joseph took five of his brothers to the king and told him, "My father and my brothers have come from Canaan.  They have brought their sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else they own to the region of Goshen."
Then he introduced his brothers to the king, 3 who asked them, "What do you do for a living?"
"Sir, we are shepherds," was their answer. "Our families have always raised sheep.  4 But in our country all the pastures are dried up, and our sheep have no grass to eat.  So we, your servants, have come here.  Please let us live in the region of Goshen."
5 The king said to Joseph, "It's good that your father and brothers have arrived.  6 I will let them live anywhere they choose in the land of Egypt, but I suggest that they settle in Goshen, the best part of our land.  I would also like for your finest shepherds to watch after my own sheep and goats."

7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and introduced him to the king.  Jacob gave the king his blessing, 8 and the king asked him, "How old are you?"
9 Jacob answered, "I have lived only a hundred thirty years, and I have had to move from place to place.  My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place.  But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine."
10 Then Jacob gave the king his blessing once again and left.  11 Joseph obeyed the king's orders and gave his father and brothers some of the best land in Egypt near the city of Rameses.  12 Joseph also provided food for their families.

RUTH 1:1-22
Ruth Is Loyal to Naomi

1-2 Before Israel was ruled by kings, Elimelech from the tribe of Ephrath lived in the town of Bethlehem.  His wife was named Naomi, and their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion.  But when their crops failed, they moved to the country of Moab.  And while they were there, 3 Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with only her two sons.  4 Later, Naomi's sons married Moabite women.  One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.  About ten years later, 5 Mahlon and Chilion also died.  Now Naomi had no husband or sons.

6-7 When Naomi heard that the LORD had given his people a good harvest, she and her two daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab and go to Judah.  As they were on their way there, 8 Naomi said to them, "Don't you want to go back home to your own mothers?  You were kind to my husband and sons, and you have always been kind to me.  I pray that the LORD will be just as kind to you.  9 May he give each of you another husband and a home of your own."
Naomi kissed them.  They cried 10 and said, "We want to go with you and live among your people."
11 But she replied, "My daughters, why don't you return home? What good will it do you to go with me?  Do you think I could have more sons for you to marry?  12 You must go back home, because I am too old to marry again.  Even if I got married tonight and later had more sons, 13 would you wait for them to become old enough to marry?  No, my daughters! Life is harder for me than it is for you, because the LORD has turned against me."
14 They cried again.  Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth held on to her.  15 Naomi then said to Ruth, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don't you go with her?"
16 Ruth answered, "Please don't tell me to leave you and return home!  I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.  17 I will die where you die and be buried beside you.  May the LORD punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!"

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back.  19 They reached Bethlehem, and the whole town was excited to see them. The women who lived there asked, "Can this really be Naomi?"
20 Then she told them, "Don't call me Naomi any longer! Call me Mara, because God has made my life bitter.  21 I had everything when I left, but the LORD has brought me back with nothing.  How can you still call me Naomi, when God has turned against me and made my life so hard?"

22 The barley harvest was just beginning when Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, arrived in Bethlehem.

PROVERBS 23:22

22 Pay attention to your father, and don't neglect your mother when she grows old.

1 TIMOTHY 5:3-8

3 Take care of any widow who is really in need.  4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them.  This is what God wants them to do.  5 A widow who is really in need is one who doesn't have any relatives.  She has faith in God, and she keeps praying to him night and day, asking for his help.

6 A widow who thinks only about having a good time is already dead, even though she is still alive.

7 Tell all of this to everyone, so they will do the right thing.  8 People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith.  They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord.