Readings for 31 March 2026
18 March 2026 on the Old calendar
- ✚Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia († 1461)
Liturgical colour: purple
Epistle: Hebrews 13:17-21
Translation: World English Bible
17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. 20Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel: John 10:9-16
Translation: World English Bible
9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. 10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
Old Testament (Vespers): Genesis 31:3-16
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
3And the Lord said to Jacob, Return to the land of thy father, and to thy family, and I will be with thee. 4And Jacob sent and called Lea and Rachel to the plain where the flocks were. 5And he said to them, I see the face of your father, that it is not toward me as before, but the God of my father was with me. 6And ye too know that with all my might I have served your father. 7But your father deceived me, and changed my wages for the ten lambs, yet God gave him not power to hurt me. 8If he should say thus, The speckled shall be thy reward, then all the cattle would bear speckled; and if he should say, The white shall be thy reward, then would all the cattle bear white. 9So God has taken away all the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10And it came to pass when the cattle conceived and were with young, that I beheld with mine eyes in sleep, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots. 11And the angel of God said to me in a dream, Jacob; and I said, What is it? 12And he said, Look up with thine eyes, and behold the he-goats and the rams leaping on the sheep and the she-goats, speckled and variegated and spotted with ash-coloured spots; for I have seen all things that Laban does to thee. 13I am God that appeared to thee in the place of God, where thou anointedst a pillar to me, and vowedst to me there a vow; now then arise and depart out of this land, depart into the land of thy nativity, and I will be with thee. 14And Rachel and Lea answered and said to him, Have we yet a part or inheritance in the house of our father? 15Are we not considered strangers by him? for he has sold us, and quite devoured our money. 16All the wealth and the glory which God has taken from our father, it shall be our's and our children's; now then do whatsoever God has said to thee.
Old Testament (Vespers): Proverbs 21:3-21
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
3To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices. 4A high-minded man is stout-hearted in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin. 6He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity on to the snares of death. 7Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly. 8To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right. 9It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house. 10The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man. 11When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge. 12A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness. 13He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear him. 14A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath. 15It is the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy man is abominable with evil-doers. 16A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants. 17A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance; 18and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man. 19It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman. 20A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up. 21The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.