Prokeimenon (Psalm 15), tone 4: I will bless the Lord/ who has enlightened me.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, as I trust in You.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 15), tone 4: I will bless the Lord, who has given me understanding.
Verse: Save me, Lord, for I have placed my hope in You!
Genesis reading (Genesis 2:4–19).
This is the book of the existence of heaven and earth, when the day came that the Lord God created heaven and earth. And every herb, even before it was on the earth, and every grass, before it even vegetated. The Lord God will not rain on the earth, and man will not do it. A fountain came up from the earth, and watered the whole face of the earth. And God created man, dust from the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted paradise in Eden in the east, and brought there man, whom he also created. And God grew from the earth every red tree for a vision, and a good tree for food, and the tree of life in the midst of paradise, and the tree of the understanding of good and evil. The river comes from Eden, filling paradise: from there it separates into four sources. The name of the one Pison: this one surrounds the whole land of Ebilite: there is gold there. The gold of this land is good, and there is anfrax and a green stone. And the name of the second is Geon: this one surrounds the whole land of Ethiopia.
And the third river is the Tigris: this one runs straight through Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. And the Lord God took man, whom he created, and brought him into the paradise of sweetness, made him and kept him. And the commandment of the Lord God to Adam, the verb: from every tree that is in Paradise, you shall carry food: but from the tree, meaning good and evil, you shall not take from it; If you are carried away by it, you will die. And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone; let us make him a helper for him. And God created from the earth all the wild beasts, and all the birds of the air, and I will bring to Adam to see what I will call: and every living thing called Adam, this his name.
Reading Genesis [2:4–19]
This is the book of the origin of heaven and earth, when they came into being, on the day in which the Lord God created heaven and earth, and every green plant of the field before it appeared on the earth, and every herb of the field before it sprang up. For the Lord God did not send rain on the earth and there was no man to cultivate it, but a stream flowed from the earth and watered the entire face of the earth. And God formed man, taking dust from the ground, and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a paradise in Eden in the east, and brought there the man whom he had created. And God made from the ground every tree that is beautiful to look at and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The river leaves Eden to irrigate Paradise, and then divides into four rivers. The name of one is Pishon: it surrounds the whole land of Evilat, there is gold there, and the gold of that land is good, and there is a garnet and a green stone there. And the name of the second river is Geon: it surrounds the whole land of Ethiopia. And the third river is the Tigris: it flows straight to Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
And the Lord God took the man whom he had created, and brought him into the paradise of pleasure, to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying: “You will eat from every tree that is in paradise, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but on the day you eat from it, you will die.” And the Lord God said: “It is not good for man to be alone; Let us make him a helper like him.” And God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field, and all the birds of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and the name of every living soul would be the same as Adam gave it.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 16), tone 4: Save me, O Lord, / like the apple of your eye.
Verse: Hear, O Lord, my righteousness, attend to my prayer, make my prayer not come from flattering lips.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 16), tone 4: Lord, protect me like the apple of my eye!
Verse: Lord, hear about my justice, and listen to my petition, and listen to my prayer, which does not come from cunning lips!
Proverbs reading (Proverbs 3:1–18).
Son, do not forget my laws, but let your heart keep my words. Long life, and years of life, and peace will be added to you. May alms and faith not fail you: so I will cover your neck, and write on the tablet of your heart, and you will find grace, and provide good deeds before the Lord (God) and people. Trust in God with all your heart, and do not be proud of your wisdom. In all your ways, acknowledge her, so that she may correct your paths. Do not be wise about yourself, but fear God and shun all evil. Then there will be healing for your body, and healing for your bones. Honor the Lord with your righteous labors, and give Him the firstfruits of your fruits of righteousness. Let your barns be filled with an abundance of wheat; let your winepress flow forth. Son, do not despise the punishment of the Lord: let him who is reproved from Him weaken. The Lord loves him and punishes him: he beats every son whom he accepts. Blessed is the man who gains wisdom, and mortal is he who gains understanding.
It’s better to have this cupping than gold and silver treasures. The most honest is a treasure of stones: nothing wicked resists it, it is gracious to eat to all those who approach it, but everything that is honest is not worthy of it. The length of life and the years of life are in her right hand: in her soul is wealth and glory: from her mouth comes righteousness, and the law and mercy are on the tongue. Her path is good, and all her paths are peaceful. The tree of life is to all who hold on to it, and to those who worship it, as to the Lord, it is strong.
Reading the book of Proverbs [3:1–18]
My son! Do not forget my instructions, and let your heart keep my words; for they will add to you length of life, years of life and peace. Let alms and faith not leave you; put them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and you will find grace. And take care of what is good before the Lord and people. Trust in God with all your heart, and do not be proud of your wisdom. In all your ways acknowledge her, so that she may direct your paths; your foot will not stumble. Do not be a wise man in your own eyes, but fear God and shun all evil. Then there will be healing for your body and there will be healing for your bones. Give honor to the Lord from your righteous labors and sacrifice to Him the firstfruits of your fruits of justice, so that your storerooms may be filled with bread and your wine presses overflowing with wine. My son! Do not neglect the Lord’s instructions and do not be discouraged when He reproaches you, for the Lord punishes those whom He loves, and beats every son whom He receives.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who has known prudence, for it is better to acquire it than treasures of gold and silver. For she is more precious than costly stones; nothing evil can resist her; she is well known to all who love her, and everything of value is not worth her; for the length of life and the years of life are in her right hand, and in her left she has wealth and glory. Truth comes from her lips; she carries law and mercy on her tongue. Her ways are beautiful, and all her paths are peaceful. She is the tree of life for all who hold on to her, and to those who rely on her as on the Lord, she is unshakable.