Prokeimenon (Psalm 139), tone 1: Take me, O Lord, from the wicked man, / deliver me from the unrighteous man.
Verse: If you think untruth in your heart, you will fight all day long.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 139), tone 1: Remove me, O Lord, from the evil man, deliver me from the unjust!
Verse: They planned injustice in their hearts, preparing for war every day.
Exodus reading (Exodus 19:10–19).
The Lord spoke to Moses: come down and testify to the people, and cleanse me this day and in the morning: and let the garments be scattered. And let them be ready on the third day: on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai, before all the people. And arrange for people around, the verb: take heed not to climb the mountain, and not to touch it in any way: everyone who touches it will die. If his hand does not touch her, he will be beaten with a stone or shot with an arrow, and neither cattle nor man will live. When the voices and trumpets and clouds depart from the mountain, they will ascend to the mountain. Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified me, and asked for his vestments. And we say to people: get ready. Do not go in among your wives for three days. On the third day it came to pass in the morning, and there was a voice and lightning, and a dark cloud fell on Mount Sinai, and the sound of the trumpet sounded loudly: and all the people were afraid, even half of them. Moses led the people out of the army to meet God, and they stash under the mountain.
Mount Sinai was all smoking, and for the sake of God it was descending upon the flames: and the smoke rose up, like the smoke of a cave: and all the people were greatly terrified. Bysha glasi trubniy happening fortresses were very good. Moses spoke, but God answered him with a voice.
Reading Exodus [19:10–19]
The Lord said to Moses: “When you go down, take an oath from this people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes and be ready on the third day. For on the third day the Lord will descend on Mount Sinai before all the people. And indicate the boundary for the people around and say: “Try and be careful not to climb this mountain and not touch it, for everyone who touches it will die.” No hand will touch it, for it will be stoned or pierced with a spear, and no one will survive, whether it be a person or livestock. When voices and trumpets sound, and the cloud departs from the mountain, then they will ascend the mountain.” And Moses went down to the people from the mountain and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people: “Be prepared, do not approach the wives for three days.” And it happened on the third day before morning: voices and lightning and a dark cloud appeared on Mount Sinai, a loud sound of a trumpet was heard, and all the people who were in the camp were horrified. And Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood under Mount Sinai.
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke from the descent of God in fire, and the smoke rose like smoke from a burning furnace, and all the people were shocked. And the sounds of the trumpet were heard, scattered around, becoming stronger. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 58), tone 7: Take me away from my enemies, O God, / and deliver me from those who rise up against me.
Verse: Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the blood of men.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 58), tone 7: Remove me from my enemies, O God, and deliver me from those who rise up against me!
Verse: Save me from those who commit lawlessness, save me from the bloodthirsty!
Job reading (Job.38:1–23; 42:1–5).
The Lord spoke to Job through the storm and clouds: Who is this, hide your advice from Me, keep the verbs in your heart, Do you think you are hiding Me? Gird up your loins like a husband: I ask you, answer Me. Where were you when you laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Mi, do you still have reason? Who can lay down its measures, or even its weights? Or who pointed the rope at nudes? What are the pillars of its foundation? Who is it that laid the cornerstone on it? When the stars came into being, all My angels praised Me with a great voice. I blocked the sea from the gates that flowed from its mother’s womb. So I put a cloud over him and covered him with darkness. And I set boundaries for him, covering the bars and gates. I said to him: You will come to this, and you will not pass, but your waves will be broken within you. Or will I form the morning light with you? The Dennitsa announced her rank, go to the earth, shake off the wicked from it. Or did you create dirt from the earth, living creatures, and planted this verb on the earth? Have you taken away the light from the wicked?
Have you broken the arm of the proud? Have you come to the sources of the sea? Did you walk in the footprints of the abyss? Are the gates of death opened to you through fear? When the gatekeepers of hell saw you, were they afraid? Have you become accustomed to the breadth of the heavens? Tell me, do you have colic? In what land does light dwell, and where does darkness have a place? If you bring Me into their borders, then what about their paths? We know that then you were born: the number of your years is many. Have you come to the treasures of the snow, and have you seen the treasures of the city? Are they subject to you in the hour of enemies, in the day of battle and battle? Job answered and said to the Lord: We know that you can do all things, but nothing is possible for You. Who is there to give you advice? Be sparing of words, and think I’ll hide it from You? Who will tell me, of whom I do not know, great and wondrous things, of whom I do not know? Listen to me, Lord, and I will say: I ask You, teach me. My ears heard Thee first, but now my eye sees Thee.
Reading Job [38:1b–23; 42:1–5]
The Lord said to Job through the storm and clouds: “Who is this who hides a plan from Me, who contains words in his heart, and thinks to hide them from Me? Gird up your loins like a husband: I will ask you, and you answer Me. Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell Me if you have knowledge. Who determined its measure, if you know? Or who pulled the rope across it? On what are its pillars erected? Who laid the cornerstone for it? When the stars were created, all My angels praised Me with a loud voice. I blocked the sea with gates when it poured out from its mother’s womb. I made him a cloud of clothing, and covered it with darkness. And he appointed boundaries for him, surrounding him with bars and gates. And he said to him: “You will reach this place and will not pass over, but your waves will break within you.” Or did I create the morning light with you? Dennitsa learned her order in order to embrace the ends of the earth and shake off the wicked from it. Or did you take clay from the earth, create an animal and set it speaking on the earth? Have you taken away the light from the wicked? And did you break the hand of the proud? Have you ever come to the sources of the sea?
Have you walked along the paths of the abyss? Do the gates of death open before you with fear, and the gatekeepers of hell, seeing you, are afraid? Have you recognized the breadth of the heavens? Tell Me: what is it like? In what land does light dwell, and where is the place of darkness? Will you bring Me into their borders? And do you know the ways to them? From this I would know that you were born then and the number of your years is great. Have you entered the snow deposits and seen the hail deposits? Do you keep them for the time of your enemies, for the day of war and battle?” And Job answered and said to the Lord: “I know that You can do everything, nothing is impossible for You. Who will hide his plan from You? By refraining from words, does he think to hide them from You? Who will tell me what I did not know, great and wonderful things that I did not know? But listen to me, Lord, and I will speak; I’ll ask You, and You teach me. Formerly I heard about You with my ears, but now my eye has seen You.”
Reading the prophecies of Isaiah (Is. 50:4–11).