Prokeimenon (Psalm 23), tone 1: The Lord is strong and strong, / The Lord is strong in battle.
Verse: The earth is the Lord and its fullness, the universe and all who live on it.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 23), tone 1: The Lord is Strong and Strong, the Lord is Strong in battle.
Verse: The earth and everything that fills it are the Lord’s: the universe and everyone living in it!
Genesis reading. [Gen.3:21–24, 4:1–7.]
The Lord God made Adam and his wife garments of skins, and clothed them. And God said: Behold, Adam was one of Us, even knowing good and evil, and now, lest he stretch out his hand and take from the tree of life, and take it down, and he will live forever. And the Lord God expelled him from the paradise of sweetness, making the earth: from what was not taken away came. And from the seat of Adam, and instilled in him the sweetness of paradise: and set up a cherub, and a flaming weapon that could be turned, to keep the way of the tree of life. And Adam knew Eve his wife, and conceived Cain. and speech: man's acquisitions by God. And set to give birth to his brother Abel. and Abel became a shepherd of the sheep: but Cain did not make the earth. And it came to pass in these days that Cain brought of the fruits of the ground a sacrifice to God: And Abel brought both of his firstborn sheep, and of their fat: and God looked upon Abel and on his offerings: And on Cain and on His sacrifices were not heeded, and Cain was greatly saddened, and his face disappeared.
And the Lord God said to Cain: You were greatly sorrowful; and your face fell away; Even if you brought the right food, you did not share the right, have you not sinned; be silent: his address is to you, and you have it.
Reading Genesis [3:21–24; 4:1–7]
The Lord God made skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And God said: “Behold, Adam has become like one of Us in the knowledge of good and evil, and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” And the Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure to cultivate the land from which he was taken. And he expelled Adam, and settled him opposite the paradise of pleasure, and placed cherubim and a revolving flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain and said: “I have acquired a man thanks to God.” And she also gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel became a shepherd of sheep, and Cain was a farmer. And it happened after some time that Cain offered a sacrifice to God from the fruits of the ground, and Abel - from among his firstborn sheep and from their fat. And God noticed Abel and his gifts, but did not heed Cain and his sacrifices. And Cain became very sad, and his face became drawn. And the Lord God said to Cain: “Why have you become sad? And why is your face drawn? If you brought correctly, but did not judge correctly, then have you not sinned?
Calm down: he will turn to you, and you will take precedence over him.”
Prokeimenon (Psalm 24), tone 6: Look upon me/ and have mercy on me.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul, my God.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 24), tone 6: Turn your gaze on me and have mercy on me!
Verse: I have lifted up my soul to You, O Lord.
Reading parables. [Prov.3:34-35, 4:1-22]
The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. They will inherit the glory of wisdom, but bring dishonor to wickedness. Listen, children, to the father’s punishment, and heed the thought. For I give you a good gift: do not forsake my law. The son was both obedient to his father and beloved before his mother: He who spoke and taught me: let our word be established in your heart, keep the commandments, forget it. Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding: do not forget, do not despise the words of my mouth, do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and it will be yours: desire her, and she will keep you. The beginning of wisdom, acquire wisdom, and in all your acquisition acquire understanding. Protect you, and he will exalt you: almost you, and embrace you: May he give your head a crown of graces, and protect you with a crown of sweetness. Hear, son, and accept my words, and the years of your life will be multiplied, so that you may have many paths of life.
By teaching you wisdom, I instruct you on the right course: Even if you walk, your feet will not falter; if you run, you will not be weary. If you have received my punishment, do not forsake it: but save your life for yourself: Do not go on the path of the wicked, but follow the path of the lawless. In this place, if they gather howls in a place, do not go there: turn away from them and change them. For they will not sleep unless they do evil: sleep will be taken away from them, and they will not sleep. For they feed on the food of wickedness, and get drunk with the wine of lawlessness. The paths of the righteous shine like light: they go ahead and enlighten until the day is corrected. But the way of the wicked is dark: they do not know how they stumble. Son, listen to my words, and attach your ear to my words. May your springs not become scarce, keep me in your heart: For life is for all who find I, and for all their flesh, healing.
Reading the book of Proverbs [3:34–35; 4:1–22]
The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The wise will inherit glory, but the wicked will bring dishonor upon themselves. Listen, children, to your father’s instruction and try to comprehend its essence, because I am giving you a good gift, do not forsake my covenant, for I too was a son, obedient to my father and beloved by my mother. They taught me and said: “Let our word be established in your heart, keep my commandments, do not forget. Acquire wisdom, acquire prudence, do not forget, do not despise the sayings of my mouth, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not leave her, and she will remain with you; love her dearly, and she will protect you. The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom; For all your property, gain understanding. Protect her and she will exalt you; almost her, to be in her arms; so that she may place a beautiful crown on your head and cover you with the magnificent crown like a shield.” Listen, my son, and accept my words, and the years of your life will be prolonged, and the ways of your life will be numerous. For I teach you the ways of wisdom, I guide you on straight paths.
If you go, your paths will not be blocked; If you run, you won’t get tired. Hold fast to my instruction, do not let go, but observe it in your life. Walk not in the ways of the wicked, and do not envy the ways of the wicked. Do not go to the place where they gather, avoid them and pass by, because they will not sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of sleep and do not sleep, for they feed on the bread of wickedness and become drunk with the wine of iniquity. But the paths of the righteous shine like light: they go ahead and shine until a clear day comes. But the ways of the wicked are dark; they do not know how they stumble. My son, listen to my words and turn your ear to my words. So that your springs do not become scarce, guard them in your heart, because to those who find them there is life, and healing for all their flesh.