Prokeimenon (Psalm 85), tone 4: Train me, O Lord, in Thy path,/ and I will walk in Thy truth.
Verse: Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 85), tone 4: Lord, guide me on Your path, and I will walk in Your truth!
Verse: Incline Your ear to me, O Lord, and listen to me, for I am poor and unhappy!
Genesis reading. [Gen.13:12–18]
Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan: and Lot dwelt in the city of the surrounding countries, and dwelt in Sodom. The people in Sodom are evil and sinners before God. But God said to Abram, that Lot should be separated from him: Look at your eyes, and see from the place where you are now, to the north, and to the valley, and to the east, and to the sea. For all the earth that you see, I will give it to you, and to your seed forever. And I will make your seed like the sand of the earth: if anyone can exhaust the sand of the earth, he will also exhaust your seed. Having risen, go through the earth into the length of it, and into the breadth, for I will give it to you, and to your seed forever. And Abram fled, and came to dwell by the oak of Mamre, which was in Hebron: and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Reading Genesis [13:12–18]
Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled in the surrounding area and began to live in the city of Sodom. The people who lived in Sodom were very wicked and sinful before God. And God said to Abram after Lot had separated from him: “Look with your eyes and look from the place where you are now, north and south, and east and west. For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants like the sand of the earth: if anyone can count the sand of the earth, he will also number your descendants. Arise and walk through this land by its length and breadth, for I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.” And Abram went away and dwelt by the oak of Mamre, which was in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 86), tone 4: The Lord loves the gates of Zion/ more than all the villages of Jacoblich.
Verse: His foundations are on the holy mountains.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 86), tone 4: The Lord loves the Gates of Zion more than all the abodes of Jacob.
Verse: It is founded on the holy mountains.
Reading parables. [Prov.14:27-35, 15:1-4]
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, and it helps one to evade the snare of mortals. In the midst of many nations, glory to the king: in the impoverishment of the people there is contrition to the mighty. A man is long-suffering and wise; a man who is faint-hearted is profoundly foolish. A meek man is a physician to the heart: pray the heart is sensitive with bone. He who slanders the poor irritates the Creator, and he who honors Him has mercy on the poor. The wicked will deny in his malice: trust in the Lord; by your holiness you are righteous. Wisdom rests in the heart of a man, but in the hearts of fools it is not known. Truth exalts the tongue, but the tribes of Greece degrade. A wise servant is pleasing to the king: by his good behavior he will abolish dishonor. Anger destroys even the wise: the answer of the humble turns away rage, and the word cruelly raises up anger. The tongue of the wise speaks good news: but the mouth of the foolish speaks evil. In every place the eyes of the Lord behold the evil and the good. Healing the tongue is the tree of life: if you keep it, you will be filled with the Spirit.
Reading the book of Proverbs [14:27–35; 15:1–4]
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, removing one from the snare of death. In a multitude of people is the glory of the king, but in the impoverishment of the people is a disaster for the ruler. A patient person has a lot of intelligence, but a cowardly person is very foolish. A meek husband is a doctor of the heart, and a sensitive heart is a moth to the bones. He who slanderes the poor angers his Creator, but he who honors the Creator has mercy on the poor. The wicked will be rejected for his evil, but he who trusts in the Lord for his piety will be justified. Wisdom will rest in a good heart, but in the heart of the foolish it is invisible. Truth elevates a people, but sins diminish tribes. A wise servant is close to the king, and with his good behavior he removes dishonor. Anger destroys even the wise, and a meek response prevents anger, but an insulting word excites rage. The tongue of the wise knows good, but the mouth of the foolish speaks evil. In every place the eyes of the Lord see the evil and the good. Healing the tongue is a tree of life, and he who keeps it will be filled with the spirit.