And it came to pass: when Isaac grew old, and his eyes grew weak, and he began to see poorly, he called Esau, his eldest son, and said to him: “My son!” And he said: “Here I am.” Isaac said to him: “Behold, I am old and do not know the day of my death. Now take your equipment, quiver and bow, and go out into the field, and get me game and prepare for me the food that I love; and bring me something to eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.” Rebekah heard Isaac speaking to his son Esau; Esau went into the field to get game for his father. And Rebekah said to Jacob, her youngest son: “Behold, I heard your father say to Esau your brother: “Bring me game and prepare food for me, and after eating, I will bless you before the Lord before I die.” So, my son, now listen to what I entrust to you, and, going to the cattle, take for me two young, good kids from there, and I will prepare food from them for your father, as he loves, and you will bring it to your father, and he will eat, so that your father may bless you before he dies.”
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother: “My brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am hairless; If my father touches me and I seem treacherous to him, then I will bring upon myself a curse instead of a blessing.” His mother said to him: “Your curse will be on me, child; just do what I say and go and bring it to me.” He went and took it and brought it to his mother; and his mother prepared food, as his father loved. And Rebekah, taking the beautiful clothes of Esau, her eldest son, which she had at home, dressed Jacob her youngest son in it, and threw the skins of the kids on his shoulders and on his uncovered neck, and gave into the hands of Jacob her son the food and loaves that she had prepared. And he took it to his father and said: “Father!” And he said: “Here I am. Who are you, child? And Jacob said to his father: “I am Esau, your firstborn son. I did as you told me; rise, sit down and eat from my catch, so that your soul may bless me.” Isaac said to his son: “What did you get so quickly, child?” And he said: “What the Lord God sent to meet me.”
Isaac said to Jacob: “Come to me, child, and I will feel you: are you my son Esau or not.” And Jacob came up to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said: “The voice is the voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy, like the hands of Esau his brother; and blessed him. And he said: “Are you my son Esau?” He said: “I am.” And he said: “Bring it to me, and I will eat from your spoils, child, and my soul will bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate, and he gave him wine, and he drank. And Isaac his father said to him: “Come to me and kiss me, child.” And he came up and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes and blessed him and said: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the fragrance of a bountiful field that the Lord has blessed. And may God give you from the dew of heaven and from the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of bread and wine. And may the nations obey you, and may rulers worship you; and rule over your brother, and your father's sons will worship you. He who curses you is cursed, and he who blesses you is blessed.”
And it came to pass after Isaac had finished blessing Jacob his son: as soon as Jacob went out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother also came from the hunt. And he also prepared food and brought it to his father, and said: “Let my father arise and eat his son’s game, so that your soul may bless me.” And Isaac his father said to him: “Who are you?” He said: “I am your firstborn son, Esau.” Isaac experienced great amazement and said: “Who is the one who got the game and brought it to me earlier? And I ate it before you came, and I blessed him, and he will be blessed.” And it happened when Esau heard the words of Isaac his father, he cried out very loudly and bitterly and said: “Bless me too, father!” The same one said to him: “Your brother came and took possession of your blessing by deception.” And Esau said: “Rightly his name is called Jacob; This is the second time he has tripped me up: he took my birthright, and now my blessing.”
And Esau said to his father: “Is there not a blessing left for me, father?” Isaac answered and said to Jacob: “If I have made him lord over you, and made all his brothers his servants, and strengthened him with bread and wine, what will I do for you, child?” Esau said to his father: “Don’t you have a single blessing, father? Bless me too!” Seeing that Isaac was dejected, Esau let out a cry and began to cry. Having answered, Isaac his father said to him: “Behold, your dwelling will be without the abundance of earth and the dew of heaven from above because of the fatness of the earth; and by your sword you will live, and you will serve your brother, and the day will come when you will break and throw his yoke off your neck.” And Esau was angry with Jacob because of the blessing with which Isaac his father had blessed him.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 107), tone 4: Ascend into heaven, O God, / and Your glory is throughout all the earth.
Verse: My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing and sing in my glory.
Prokeimenon (Psalm 107), tone 4: May You be exalted to the heavens, O God, and may Your glory be throughout all the earth!
Verse: My heart is ready, God, my heart is ready; I decided: I will glorify You and glorify You in songs!
Reading parables. [Proverbs 19:16–25]
He who keeps the commandments keeps his soul; but he who is careless about his ways will perish. The poor beggar has mercy, he gives in return to God: according to his giving he will be rewarded. Punish your son, so that he will be trustworthy: do not take your soul for annoyance. An evil man will gain much; but if there is a destroyer, he will lay down his soul. Listen to the son of your father's punishment, so that you may be wise in your last life. There are many thoughts in the husband’s heart: the counsel of the Lord endures forever. The fruit of a man is alms: better is a righteous one to be poor than a liar who is rich. The fear of the Lord is in the belly of men: but the fearless will dwell in the place where reason is not observed. If you hide your hands unrighteously in the depths of your hands, then I will bring it to your lips. I will accept wounds to the destroyer, the fool will be more insidious: if you rebuke a man who is reasonable, he will understand his feelings.
Reading Proverbs 19:16–25]
He who keeps the commandments guards his soul, but he who does not take care of his ways will perish. He who has mercy on the beggar lends to God, and He will reward him for his good deeds. Punish your son, for this way he will be trustworthy, but do not become enraged in your soul. A malicious person will suffer great damage, and if he causes harm, he will add his soul. Listen, son, to the instruction of your father, so that you may later become wise. There are many thoughts in the heart of man, but the counsel of the Lord endures forever. The fruit for man is alms, and a poor righteous man is better than a rich liar. The fear of the Lord leads a person to life, and he who does not have fear will wander in places where reason is not noticeable. He who hides his hands in his bosom unnecessarily will not bring them to his mouth. When a harmful person is punished, the foolish one will become more cunning, but if you rebuke a wise man, he will understand the instruction.