Daily Scripture

ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY

Friday, December 19, 2025

St Nicholas the Wonderworker, Abp. of Myra in Lycia

Fasting: FastVigilJulian: December 6

Vespers

Prov 10, 3, 8

The memory of a just man is praised, and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better than treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she bears law and mercy on her tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me, for I speak weighty things. And blessed is the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of humankind. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, knowledge and understanding. I have called on them. Counsel and sureness are mine; prudence is mine, strength is mine. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, then, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit.

Vespers

Prov 10.31-11.12

Read in context

10:31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

10:32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

11:1A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight.

11:2[When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.

11:3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

11:4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

11:5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

11:6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in [their own] naughtiness.

11:7When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust [men] perisheth.

11:8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

11:9An hypocrite with [his] mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

11:10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, [there is] shouting.

11:11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

11:12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Vespers

Wis 4.7-15

The

Text unavailable (Wis).

Matins Gospel

John 10.9-16

Read in context

The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him:

9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

Epistle

Titus 1.15-2.10

Read in context

My son Titus, to

1:15Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

1:16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2:1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2:2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

2:3The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

2:4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

2:5[To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

2:6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

2:7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

2:8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

2:9[Exhort] servants to be obedient unto their own masters, [and] to please [them] well in all [things]; not answering again;

2:10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Epistle — St Nicholas

Heb 13.17-21

Read in context

Brethren, obey

17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

19But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 21.37-22.8

Read in context

At that time, Jesus in the daytime

21:37And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called [the mount] of Olives.

21:38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

22:1Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

22:2And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

22:3Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

22:4And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

22:5And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

22:6And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

22:7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

22:8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Gospel — St Nicholas

Luke 6.17-23

Read in context

At that time, Jesus

17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed [them] all.

20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.