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Daily Readings
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Friday, 19th April 2024 --- 11 Baramoudah 1740
Readings for Friday of sixth week of Great Lent
Matins
Genesis 22 : 1 - 18 Isaiah 45 : 11 - 17 Proverbs 9 : 12 - 18 Job 36 : 1 - 33 Job 37 : 1 - 24 Tobit 1 : 1 - end Tobit 2 : 1 - end Tobit 3 : 1 - end Tobit 4 : 1 - end Tobit 5 : 1 - end Tobit 6 : 1 - end Tobit 7 : 1 - end Tobit 8 : 1 - end Tobit 9 : 1 - end Tobit 10 : 1 - end Tobit 11 : 1 - end Tobit 12 : 1 - end Tobit 13 : 1 - end
Genesis 22 : 1 - 18
Chapter 22
| 1 | Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
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| 2 | Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
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| 3 | So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
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| 4 | Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
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| 5 | And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
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| 6 | So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
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| 7 | But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
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| 8 | And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
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| 9 | Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
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| 10 | And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
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| 11 | But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
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| 12 | And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
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| 13 | Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
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| 14 | And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
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| 15 | Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
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| 16 | and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--
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| 17 | blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
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| 18 | In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
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Isaiah 45 : 11 - 17
Chapter 45
| 11 | Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.
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| 12 | I have made the earth, And created man on it. I--My hands--stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.
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| 13 | I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward," Says the LORD of hosts.
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| 14 | Thus says the LORD: "The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; They shall walk behind you, They shall come over in chains; And they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, "Surely God is in you, And there is no other; There is no other God."'
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| 15 | Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior!
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| 16 | They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.
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| 17 | But Israel shall be saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever.
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Proverbs 9 : 12 - 18
Chapter 9
| 12 | If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."
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| 13 | A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing.
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| 14 | For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,
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| 15 | To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:
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| 16 | "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
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| 17 | "Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
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| 18 | But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.
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Job 36 : 1 - 33
Chapter 36
| 1 | Elihu also proceeded and said:
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| 2 | "Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf.
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| 3 | I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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| 4 | For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
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| 5 | "Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
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| 6 | He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
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| 7 | He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
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| 8 | And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
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| 9 | Then He tells them their work and their transgressions--That they have acted defiantly.
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| 10 | He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
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| 11 | If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
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| 12 | But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
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| 13 | "But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
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| 14 | They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
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| 15 | He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
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| 16 | "Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
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| 17 | But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
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| 18 | Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
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| 19 | Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
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| 20 | Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
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| 21 | Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
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| 22 | "Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
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| 23 | Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, "You have done wrong'?
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| 24 | "Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
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| 25 | Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
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| 26 | "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
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| 27 | For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
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| 28 | Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
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| 29 | Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
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| 30 | Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
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| 31 | For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
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| 32 | He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
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| 33 | His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
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Job 37 : 1 - 24
Chapter 37
| 1 | "At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
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| 2 | Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
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| 3 | He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
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| 4 | After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
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| 5 | God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
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| 6 | For He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
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| 7 | He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.
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| 8 | The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.
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| 9 | From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
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| 10 | By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.
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| 11 | Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
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| 12 | And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth.
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| 13 | He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
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| 14 | "Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
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| 15 | Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
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| 16 | Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
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| 17 | Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
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| 18 | With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
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| 19 | "Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
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| 20 | Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
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| 21 | Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them.
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| 22 | He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
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| 23 | As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
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| 24 | Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart."
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Tobit 1 : 1 - end
Chapter 1
| 1 | Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way that leadeth to the west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,)
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| 2 | When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth,
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| 3 | But every day gave all he could get to his brethren his fellow captives, that were of his kindred.
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| 4 | And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.
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| 5 | Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all,
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| 6 | And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and his tithes,
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| 7 | So that in the third year he gave all his tithes to the proselytes, and strangers.
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| 8 | These and such like things did he observe when but a boy according to the law of God.
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| 9 | But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name,
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| 10 | And from his infancy he taught him to fear God, and to abstain from all sin.
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| 11 | And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,
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| 12 | (When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and never was defiled with their meats.
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| 13 | And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the king.
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| 14 | And he gave him leave to go whithersoever he would, with liberty to do whatever he had a mind.
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| 15 | He therefore went to all that were in captivity, and gave them wholesome admonitions.
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| 16 | And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honoured by the king:
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| 17 | And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.
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| 18 | But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the children of Israel:
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| 19 | Tobias daily went among all his kindred, and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods:
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| 20 | He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.
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| 21 | And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from Judea by reason of the slaughter that God had made about him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.
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| 22 | But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slain, and took away all his substance.
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| 23 | But Tobias fleeing naked away with his son and with his wife, lay concealed, for many loved him.
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| 24 | But after forty-five days, the king was killed by his own sons.
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| 25 | And Tobias returned to his house, and all his substance was restored to him.
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Tobit 2 : 1 - end
Chapter 2
| 1 | But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord, and a good dinner was prepared in Tobias's house,
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| 2 | He said to his son: Go, and bring some of our tribe that fear God, to feast with us.
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| 3 | And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he forthwith leaped up from his place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to the body:
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| 4 | And taking it up carried it privately to his house, that after the sun was down, he might bury him cautiously.
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| 5 | And when he had hid the body, he ate bread with mourning and fear,
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| 6 | Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning.
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| 7 | So when the sun was down, he went and buried him.
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| 8 | Now all his neighbours blamed him, saying: Once already commandment was given for thee to be slain because of this matter, and thou didst scarce escape the sentence of death, and dost thou again bury the dead?
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| 9 | But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them.
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| 10 | Now it happened one day, that being wearied with burying, he came to his house, and cast himself down by the wall and slept,
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| 11 | And as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow's nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.
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| 12 | Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job.
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| 13 | For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him,
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| 14 | But continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life.
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| 15 | For as the kings insulted over holy Job: so his relations and kinsmen mocked at his life, saying:
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| 16 | Where is thy hope, for which thou gavest alms, and buriedst the dead?
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| 17 | But Tobias rebuked them, saying: Speak not so:
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| 18 | For we are the children of the saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from him.
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| 19 | Now Anna his wife went daily to weaving work, and she brought home what she could get for their living by the labour of her hands.
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| 20 | Whereby it came to pass, that she received a young kid, and brought it home:
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| 21 | And when her husband heard it bleating, he said: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat or to touch any thing that cometh by theft.
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| 22 | At these words his wife being angry answered: It is evident thy hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now appear. And with these, and other such like words she upbraided him.
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Tobit 3 : 1 - end
Chapter 3
| 1 | Then Tobias sighed, and began to pray with tears,
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| 2 | Saying: Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment:
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| 3 | And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offenses, nor those of my parents.
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| 4 | For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us.
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| 5 | And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee:
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| 6 | And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live.
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| 7 | Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of Raguel, in Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach from one of her father's servant maids,
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| 8 | Because she had been given to seven husbands, and a devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her.
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| 9 | So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying: May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands.
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| 10 | Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed seven husbands? At these words she went into an upper chamber of her house: and for three days and three nights did neither eat nor drink:
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| 11 | But continuing in prayer with tears besought God, that he would deliver her from this reproach.
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| 12 | And it came to pass on the third day, when she was making an end of her prayer, blessing the Lord,
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| 13 | She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers: who when thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the time of tribulation forgivest the sins of them that call upon thee.
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| 14 | To thee, O Lord, I turn my face, to thee I direct my eyes.
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| 15 | I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth.
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| 16 | Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my soul clean from all lust.
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| 17 | Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness.
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| 18 | But a husband I consented to take, with thy fear, not with my lust.
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| 19 | And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man.
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| 20 | For thy counsel is not in man's power.
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| 21 | But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned: and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy.
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| 22 | For thou art not delighted in our being lost: because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness.
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| 23 | Be thy name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever.
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| 24 | At that time the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the most high God:
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| 25 | And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.
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Tobit 4 : 1 - end
Chapter 4
| 1 | Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son,
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| 2 | And said to him: Hear, my son, the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart.
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| 3 | When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life:
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| 4 | For thou must be mindful what and how great perils she suffered for thee in her womb.
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| 5 | And when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her by me.
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| 6 | And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and take heed thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our God.
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| 7 | Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee.
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| 8 | According to thy ability be merciful.
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| 9 | If thou have much give abundantly: if thou have a little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little.
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| 10 | For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity.
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| 11 | For alms deliver from all sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness.
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| 12 | Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it.
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| 13 | Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime.
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| 14 | Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning.
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| 15 | If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all.
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| 16 | See thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another.
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| 17 | Eat thy bread with the hungry and the needy, and with thy garments cover the naked.
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| 18 | Lay out thy bread, and thy wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked.
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| 19 | Seek counsel always of a wise man.
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| 20 | Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.
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| 21 | I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me:
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| 22 | Now therefore inquire how thou mayst go to him, and receive of him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand.
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| 23 | Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.
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Tobit 5 : 1 - end
Chapter 5
| 1 | Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.
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| 2 | But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.
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| 3 | Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.
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| 4 | But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.
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| 5 | Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.
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| 6 | And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?
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| 7 | But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?
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| 8 | And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.
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| 9 | And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.
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| 10 | Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.
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| 11 | So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.
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| 12 | And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?
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| 13 | And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.
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| 14 | And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.
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| 15 | And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.
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| 16 | And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?
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| 17 | And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?
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| 18 | But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.
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| 19 | And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.
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| 20 | And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.
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| 21 | And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.
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| 22 | Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.
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| 23 | And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.
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| 24 | I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.
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| 25 | For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.
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| 26 | And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.
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| 27 | For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.
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| 28 | At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.
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Tobit 6 : 1 - end
Chapter 6
| 1 | And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and he lodged the first night by the river of Tigris.
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| 2 | And he went out to wash his feet, and behold a monstrous fish came up to devour him.
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| 3 | And Tobias being afraid of him, cried out with a loud voice, saying: Sir, he cometh upon me.
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| 4 | And the angel said to him: Take him by the gill, and draw him to thee. And when he had done so, he drew him out upon the land, and he began to pant before his feet.
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| 5 | Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of the fish, and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his liver for thee: for these are necessary for useful medicines.
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| 6 | And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof, and they took it with them in the way: the rest they salted as much as might serve them, till they came to Rages the city of the Medes.
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| 7 | Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I beseech thee, brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are these things good for, which thou hast bid me keep of the fish?
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| 8 | And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to them.
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| 9 | And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.
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| 10 | And Tobias said to him: Where wilt thou that we lodge?
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| 11 | And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other daughter beside her.
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| 12 | All his substance is due to thee, and thou must take her to wife.
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| 13 | Ask her therefore of her father, and he will give her thee to wife.
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| 14 | Then Tobias answered, and said: I hear that she hath been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard, that a devil killed them.
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| 15 | Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also: and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.
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| 16 | Then the angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I will shew thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail.
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| 17 | For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.
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| 18 | But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her.
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| 19 | And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the devil shall be driven away.
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| 20 | But the second night thou shalt be admitted into the society of the holy Patriarchs.
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| 21 | And the third night thou shalt obtain a blessing that sound children may be born of you.
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| 22 | And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children.
|
Tobit 7 : 1 - end
Chapter 7
| 1 | And they went in to Raguel, and Raguel received them with joy.
|
| 2 | And Raguel looking upon Tobias, said to Anna his wife: How like is this young man to my cousin?
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| 3 | And when he had spoken these words, he said: Whence are ye young men our brethren?
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| 4 | But they said: We are of the tribe of Nephtali, of the captiveof Ninive.
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| 5 | And Raguel said to them: Do you know Tobias my brother? And they said: We know him.
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| 6 | And when he was speaking many good things of him, the angel said to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest is this young man's father.
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| 7 | And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears, and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.
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| 8 | And Anna his wife, and Sara their daughter wept.
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| 9 | And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to dinner,
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| 10 | Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter.
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| 11 | Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition,
|
| 12 | The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.
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| 13 | Then Raguel said: I doubt not but God hath regarded my prayers and tears in his sight.
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| 14 | And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.
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| 15 | And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you.
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| 16 | And taking paper they made a writing of the marriage.
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| 17 | And afterwards they made merry, blessing God.
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| 18 | And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and bade her prepare another chamber.
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| 19 | And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept.
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| 20 | And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.
|
Tobit 8 : 1 - end
Chapter 8
| 1 | And after they had supped, they brought in the young man to her.
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| 2 | And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.
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| 3 | Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt.
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| 4 | Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.
|
| 5 | For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.
|
| 6 | So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them,
|
| 7 | And Tobias said: Lord God of our father, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.
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| 8 | Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.
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| 9 | And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
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| 10 | Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.
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| 11 | And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.
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| 12 | For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.
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| 13 | And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife, and said to her:
|
| 14 | Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may bury him before it be day.
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| 15 | So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber, and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.
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| 16 | And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his wife blessed the Lord,
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| 17 | And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath not happened as we suspected.
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| 18 | For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us the enemy that persecuted us.
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| 19 | And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone art God in all the earth.
|
| 20 | And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit they had made, before it was day.
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| 21 | And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.
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| 22 | He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends.
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| 23 | And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks.
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| 24 | And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made him a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.
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Tobit 9 : 1 - end
Chapter 9
| 1 | Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:
|
| 2 | If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a worthy return for thy care.
|
| 3 | However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to come to my wedding.
|
| 4 | For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.
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| 5 | And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I cannot despise.
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| 6 | Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his note of hand, and received of him all the money.
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| 7 | And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.
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| 8 | And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God,
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| 9 | And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds:
|
| 10 | And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents.
|
| 11 | And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.
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| 12 | And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.
|
Tobit 10 : 1 - end
Chapter 10
| 1 | But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained there?
|
| 2 | Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the money?
|
| 3 | And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with him: and they began both to weep together: because their son did not return to them on the day appointed.
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| 4 | But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our posterity?
|
| 5 | We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have let thee go from us.
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| 6 | And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.
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| 7 | But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar off.
|
| 8 | But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.
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| 9 | And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.
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| 10 | And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him.
|
| 11 | Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about your parents, and my eyes see your children before I die.
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| 12 | And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her go:
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| 13 | Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.
|
Tobit 11 : 1 - end
Chapter 11
| 1 | And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.
|
| 2 | And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst leave thy father.
|
| 3 | If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.
|
| 4 | And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed.
|
| 5 | But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from whence she might see afar off.
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| 6 | And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.
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| 7 | And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.
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| 8 | And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.
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| 9 | Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.
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| 10 | And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.
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| 11 | And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they began to weep for joy.
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| 12 | And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat down together.
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| 13 | Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his father's eyes.
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| 14 | And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.
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| 15 | And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and immediately he recovered his sight.
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| 16 | And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew them.
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| 17 | And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me: and behold I see Tobias my son.
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| 18 | And after seven days Sara his son's wife, and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus:
|
| 19 | And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.
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| 20 | And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had done for him.
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| 21 | And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.
|
Tobit 12 : 1 - end
Chapter 12
| 1 | Then Tobias called to him his son, and said to him: What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?
|
| 2 | Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?
|
| 3 | He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things?
|
| 4 | But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would vouchsafe to accept one half of all things that have been brought.
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| 5 | So the father and the son, calling him, took him aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things that they had brought.
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| 6 | Then he said to them secretly: Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his mercy to you.
|
| 7 | For it is good to hide the secret of a king: but honourable to reveal and confess the works of God.
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| 8 | Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold:
|
| 9 | For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.
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| 10 | But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul.
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| 11 | I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the secret from you.
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| 12 | When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.
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| 13 | And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee.
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| 14 | And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara thy son's wife from the devil.
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| 15 | For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord.
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| 16 | And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.
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| 17 | And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.
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| 18 | For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him.
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| 19 | I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you: but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.
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| 20 | It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.
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| 21 | And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more.
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| 22 | Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God: and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.
|
Tobit 13 : 1 - end
Chapter 13
| 1 | And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and said: Thou art great, O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all ages:
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| 2 | For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell, and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand.
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| 3 | Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the Gentiles:
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| 4 | Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them know that there is no other almighty God besides him.
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| 5 | He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for his own mercy.
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| 6 | See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your works.
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| 7 | As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation.
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| 8 | Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God, believing that he will shew his mercy to you.
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| 9 | And I and my soul will rejoice in him.
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| 10 | Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy, and give glory to him.
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| 11 | Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the works of thy hands.
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| 12 | Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God eternal, that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever.
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| 13 | Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the earth shall worship thee.
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| 14 | Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy.
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| 15 | For they shall call upon the great name in thee.
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| 16 | They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that shall build thee up.
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| 17 | But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord.
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| 18 | Blessed are all they that love thee, and that rejoice in thy peace.
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| 19 | My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles.
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| 20 | Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed, to see the glory of Jerusalem.
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| 21 | The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones.
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| 22 | All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets.
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| 23 | Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over it for ever and ever, Amen.
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Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 51 : 7 - 8
Chapter 51
| 7 | Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
|
| 8 | Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matins Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
John 3 : 14 - 21
Chapter 3
| 14 | And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
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| 15 | that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
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| 16 | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
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| 17 | For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
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| 18 | "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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| 19 | And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
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| 20 | For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
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| 21 | But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
|
And Glory be to God forever.
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Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Corinthians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
1 Corinthians 10 : 1 - 13
Chapter 10
| 1 | Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
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| 2 | all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
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| 3 | all ate the same spiritual food,
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| 4 | and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
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| 5 | But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
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| 6 | Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
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| 7 | And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
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| 8 | Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;
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| 9 | nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
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| 10 | nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
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| 11 | Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
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| 12 | Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
|
| 13 | No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
|
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 John 2 : 12 - 17
Chapter 2
| 12 | I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
|
| 13 | I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
|
| 14 | I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
|
| 15 | Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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| 16 | For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
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| 17 | And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
|
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 8 : 9 - 17
Chapter 8
| 9 | But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
|
| 10 | to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."
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| 11 | And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
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| 12 | But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
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| 13 | Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
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| 14 | Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
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| 15 | who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
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| 16 | For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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| 17 | Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
|
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 11 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramoudah, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Eleventh Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Departure of St.Theodora
On this day, the pure and holy mother Theodora,
departed. This holy woman was the only daughter of noble and Christian
parents of Alexandria. Her parents Provided for her costly apparels and
many gold and silver accessories, for they wished to give her in marriage.
This Saint refused that, for she desired in her heart the worship of God
and the strife for His Name's sake. She sold all what her father bought
her, gave to the needy, and then built a church outside the city of Alexandria,
towards the west. Then she went to the holy father Abba Athanasius, the
apostolic (Fourth century), who shaved her hair and made her a nun in one
of the convents outside the city of Alexandria. She devoted herself to
the ascetic life, fought the spiritual fight, and became worthy to see
divine visions, distinguish angels from satan, and know the thoughts of
the minds. Pope Athanasius visited her often and instructed her with his
teachings. When he was exiled, he sent her many letters full of valuable
sermons, and she was steadfast in her strife until the end of her life.
She was contemporary to five Patriarchs: Alexandros, Athanasius, Petros,
Timotheos and Theophilos. She put down many useful sayings, some of them
by the grace that was in her; the others were from what she learned from
those fathers. Once she was asked: "If a man talked to another evil words,
would he silence him, or rebuke him, or close the ears and not listen to
him?" She replied saying: "If a man put in front of you a table with good
and bad foods, you can not say to him "Take this or that for it is harmful
for me,' but you overlook it and eat what you desired, so nothing should
be said to who speak bad words to others but it is enough that the man
does not let his ears enjoy what he is hearing." She was also asked: "How
can the human overcome his enemy Satan?" She answered saying: "With fasting,
prayer, and humility." When she finished her strife, she departed in peace
and was one hundred years old.
May Her prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.John, Bishop of Gaza
This day also marks the
commemoration of the departure of Anba John, Bishop of Gaza.
May His intercession be with us and Glory be to our God forever.
Amen.
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Divine Psalm
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 35 : 5,4
Chapter 35
| 5 | Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase them.
|
| 4 | Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt.
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Hallelujah.
Divine Gospel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
John 3 : 1 - 13
Chapter 3
| 1 | There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
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| 2 | This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
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| 3 | Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
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| 4 | Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
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| 5 | Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
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| 6 | That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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| 7 | Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.'
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| 8 | The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
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| 9 | Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
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| 10 | Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
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| 11 | Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
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| 12 | If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
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| 13 | No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
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And Glory be to God forever.
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