Composite 2 - Proverbs 10, 3, 8

1
The memory of the righteous is with praise and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who has found wisdom and the mortal who has understanding. For it is better to purchase her than treasuries of gold and silver. She is more precious than precious stones and all that is precious is unworthy of her. For length of days and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are riches and glory. Out of her mouth proceeds righteousness and she bears law and mercy upon her tongue.
2
Hear me, O child, for I will speak noble things. Blessed is the man who keeps my ways, for my ways are the way of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Therefore, I pray you, and utter my voice to the sons of men: For I, wisdom, have dwelt with counsel and knowledge and I have called upon understanding. Counsel and safety are mine, understanding and strength are mine. I love those who love me and those seeking me shall find grace.
3
Understand craftiness, O you who are simple, and imbibe knowledge, you who are untaught. Hear me again, for I will speak noble things: I will open my mouth and from my lips shall come what is right. For my throat shall meditate truth; false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them that is twisted or perverse. They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
4
I shall instruct you in truth, so that your hope will be in the Lord and you shall be filled with the Spirit.


Vespers, 2nd reading

Proverbs 10:31-11:12

31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
1
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7
When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8
The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.
9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12
He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.


Vespers, 3rd reading

Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15

7
But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8
For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by number of years;
9
but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe old age.
10
There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11
He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile deceive his soul.
12
For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
13
Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14
for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15
Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.


Matins Gospel

John 10:9-16

9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12
But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
18
Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
19
But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.


Gospel

Luke 6:17-23

17
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18
as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21
Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22
Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
23
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.