Troparion of prophecy, voice 3:
Our intercessor is God Jacob, and the Protector is in the day of sorrow.
Glory, and now: and we repeat the same.
Troparion of prophecy, voice 3: The God of Jacob is our Helper and Defender in the day of adversity.
Glory, even now: and we repeat the same troparion.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 87), tone 6: I am poor, / and in labor from my youth.
Verse: O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried before You in the days and in the nights.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 87), tone 6: I am unhappy and have been in suffering since my youth.
Verse: Lord and God of my salvation, day and night I cried to You.
Reading the prophecies of Isaiah. [Isa.40:18–31]
This is what the Lord says: To whom will you like the Lord, and to whom will you like Him? Did the woodmaker create an image of food, or did the goldsmith merge gold and gild it, or create it in its likeness? For the woodmaker chooses a tree that does not rot, and wisely seeks how he will set up his image, and let it not be shaken. Don't you understand, don't you hear? Shall we not tell you first? Do you not understand the foundations of the earth, containing the circle of the earth, and those who live on it like springs: having made the sky like a kamaru, and spread it out like a tabernacle of habitation. Let the princes, like nothing, rule, and the earth, like nothing, create. For they will not plant, they will sow below, and their roots will not take root in the earth: the wind will blow on them, and the storm will take them away like a stalk. Now to whom will I be likened, and I will be exalted, says the Holy One? Look up to the heights of your eyes, and see who created all this? He carries His utensils according to the number, and all of them will be called by name for much glory, and in the power of His fortress nothing is hidden from You.
What did you say to Jacob, and what did you say to Israel? my way is hidden from God, and my God withdraws his judgment and departs. And now have you not understood? Have you ever heard of it? The eternal God, the God who built the ends of the earth, will not hunger, nor will He be weary; below is the invention of His wisdom. Give strength to those who are hungry, and sorrow to those who are not sick. For the young will hunger, and the young will be weary, and the elect will not be strong: but those who endure the Lord will change their strength.
Reading the prophecy of Isaiah [40:18–31a]
Thus says the Lord: To whom will you liken the Lord, and what likeness will you find for Him? Is it not the artist who makes the image, but the goldsmith, having melted the gold, gilded it and made it into its likeness? And the carpenter chooses a non-rotting tree, and the wise man looks for how to place an image on it so that it does not sway. Don't you understand? Haven't you heard? Was it not told you from the beginning? Have you not understood the foundations of the earth? He holds the circle of the earth, and those who live on it are like locusts; He made the sky like a vault and spread it out like a tent to live in. He turns the power of rulers into nothing, and He makes the earth seem like nothing. For they do not plant, they do not sow, their roots do not take root in the ground: the wind blew on them, and they withered, and the storm carried them away like stalks. “So now to whom will you liken Me, and I will be exalted?” said the Saint. Turn your eyes up and see: who revealed all this? He who produces His world in proportion and calls everyone by name has great glory and holds with His power. Nothing will be hidden from You.
Why do you say, Jacob, and what do you say, Israel: “My way is hidden from God, and my God deprived me of judgment and retreated”? And now you did not understand, or did you not hear? The eternal God, the God who formed the ends of the earth, will neither thirst nor be weary, and His wisdom is unattainable. He gives strength to the hungry and sorrow to those who are not suffering. For the young will thirst, and the young men will become weary, and the elect will be helpless, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 88), tone 6: Blessed are the people/ leading the cry.
Verse: Lord, in the light of Your face let us walk, and in Your name we will rejoice all the day.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 88), tone 6: Blessed is the people who know the cry of victory!
Verse: In the light of Your face they will walk and in Your name they will remain in joy all day long.