Prokeimenon (Psalm 114), tone 4: I will please the Lord/ in the land of the living.
Verse: I love that the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 114), tone 4: I will be pleasing to the Lord in the land of the living.
Verse: I am glad that the Lord will hear the word of my prayer.
Genesis reading. [Gen.43:26–31, 45:1–16]
His brothers brought Joseph the gifts, even the name in their hands, into the house: and they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. And ask them: are you healthy? and I say to them: Is your old father, his father, in good health, and is he still alive? They said: your servant, our father, is still alive and well. and the speech: blessed is this man to God. and bowed down to him and bowed down. Joseph looked with his eyes at the sight of Benjamin, his only mother’s brother, and said: Is this your youngest brother whom you should bring to me? and the speech: May God have mercy on this child. Joseph was indignant, for his womb moved for his brother, and sought to weep: and he went into the bed, weeping there. And having washed his face, he left and restrained himself. And Joseph could not withstand all that was before him, but said, Send them all away from me: and not one stood before Joseph, who was known to his brethren. And he let out a voice with weeping: and all the Egyptians heard, and it was heard in Pharaoh's house. Joseph said to his brethren: I am Joseph: is my father still alive?
and the brothers could not answer him: they were embarrassed. Joseph said to his brethren: draw near to me, and draw near. and he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you will sell into Egypt. Now do not grieve; let it be cruelly revealed to you that you have sold this seed: for God has sent me before you to live. This is the second summer of famine on the earth, and five more years remain, in which there will be no crying or harvest. God sent me before you to leave you a remnant on earth, and to nourish your great remnant. Now it is not you who have sent me, but God: and make me as a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and prince of all the land of Egypt. Having strove, go up to my father and say to him: This is the saying of your son Joseph: God made me lord of all the land of Egypt: come down to me, and you did not fail.
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen of Arabia, and thou shalt be near me, and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and thy fir tree: And I will feed thee. There, for five more years there will be famine on the earth, so that you and your sons and all your possessions will not perish. Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, as my mouth speaks to you. Tell my father therefore all my glory that is in Egypt, and as soon as you see, you will quickly bring my father here. And Benjamin attacked his brother's neck, weeping over him: and Benjamin wept on his neck. And he kissed all his brethren, and wept over them: and his brethren still spoke unto him. And a voice rang through the house of Pharaoh, saying, The brethren of Joseph have come: and Pharaoh and his servants rejoiced.
Reading Genesis [43:26–31; 45:1–16]
His brothers brought gifts to Joseph's house, which they held in their hands, and bowed to him with their faces to the ground. He asked them: “How do you live?” And he said to them: “Is your old father healthy, about whom you said that he was still alive?” They said: “Your servant, our father, is healthy, he is still alive.” And he said, “Blessed is this man with God.” And they bowed respectfully to him. Joseph, raising his eyes, saw Benjamin, his half-brother, and said: “Is this your younger brother, whom you promised to bring to me?” And he said: “May God have mercy on you, child!” Joseph became agitated, and his heart sank at the sight of his brother, and tears welled up in his eyes; and, going into the inner room, he began to cry. And, having washed his face, he regained control of himself. And Joseph could not restrain himself in front of those coming, and said: “Send everyone out from me.” There was no one with Joseph when he revealed himself to his brothers. And he cried out weeping, and the Egyptians heard him, and it was heard in the house of Pharaoh. Joseph said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive? And the brothers could not answer him, for they were shocked.
Joseph said to his brothers, “Come to me,” and they came. And he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Do not be upset now that you sold me, and do not be darkened, for for the sake of life God sent me before you. For this is the second year of famine on earth, and five more years are coming when there will be no harvest and no fruits of agriculture. For God sent me before you to leave a remnant for you on earth and to prepare great supplies for you. Now it was not you who sent me here, but God, and He made me like a father to Pharaoh, and the head of all his house and the ruler of all the land of Egypt. So, go quickly to my father and tell him: “This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me the head of all the land of Egypt. Come to me and do not resist, and you will dwell in the land of Goshen of Arabia and be near me, you and your sons, and your sons’ sons, and your sheep and oxen, and all that you have.”
And I will feed you there, for five more years there will be famine on the earth, so that you and your sons and all your property do not perish.” Behold, your eyes and the eyes of Benjamin my brother see that my mouth speaks to you. Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about what you saw, and hasten and bring my father here.” And, throwing himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin, Joseph began to weep; and Benjamin wept on his neck. And having kissed all his brothers, he wept for them, and after that his brothers spoke to him. And it became known in the house of Pharaoh, and they said: “Joseph’s brothers have come.” And Pharaoh and his retinue rejoiced.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 115), tone 4: I will render my prayers to the Lord before all His people.
Verse: I believed, I also exclaimed, and I was greatly humbled.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 115), tone 4: I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
Verse: I believed, that’s why I said: “I was extremely humbled.”
Reading parables. [Proverbs 21:23–31, 22:1–4]
He who guards his mouth and tongue, keeps his soul from sorrow. Insolent, and majestic, and proud, the destroyer is called: and he who is wicked in memory is lawless. The lusts of the lazy man kill: they do not deign his hand to do anything. The wicked desires evil all day long, but the righteous is merciful and generous mercilessly. The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: for they offer unlawfully. A false witness will perish, but the husband who obeys will preserve his cry. A wicked man stands face shamelessly; but a righteous man understands his own ways. There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no advice for the wicked. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: help comes from the Lord. Better is a good name than much wealth, but rather good grace than silver and gold. Rich and poor meet each other: the Lord create both. Khudog, having seen the evil one severely tormented, is punished himself; I brushed off the madness in passing. The generation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and wealth, and glory, and life.
Reading the book of Proverbs [21:23–31; 22:1–4]