Readings for 3 April 2026
21 March 2026 on the Old calendar
Liturgical colour: purple
Old Testament (Vespers): Genesis 49:33-50:26
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
33And Jacob ceased giving charges to his sons; and having lifted up his feet on the bed, he died, and was gathered to his people. 50:1And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept on him, and kissed him. 2And Joseph commanded his servants the embalmers to embalm his father; and the embalmers embalmed Israel. 3And they fulfilled forty days for him, for so are the days of embalming numbered; and Egypt mourned for him seventy days. 4And when the days of mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the princes of Pharao, saying, If I have found favour in your sight, speak concerning me in the ears of Pharao, saying, 5My father adjured me, saying, In the sepulchre which I dug for myself in the land of Chanaan, there thou shalt bury me; now then I will go up and bury my father, and return again. 6And Pharao said to Joseph, Go up, bury thy father, as he constrained thee to swear. 7So Joseph went up to bury his father; and all the servants of Pharao went up with him, and the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt. 8And all the household of Joseph, and his brethren, and all the house of his father, and his kindred; and they left behind the sheep and the oxen in the land of Gesem. 9And there went up with him also chariots and horsemen; and there was a very great company. 10And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan; and they bewailed him with a great and very sore lamentation; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11And the inhabitants of the land of Chanaan saw the mourning at the floor of Atad, and said, This is a great mourning to the Egyptians; therefore he called its name, The mourning of Egypt, which is beyond Jordan. 12And thus his sons did to him. 13So his sons carried him up into the land of Chanaan, and buried him in the double cave, which cave Abraam bought for possession of a burying place, of Ephrom the Chettite, before Mambre. 14And Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brethren, and those that had gone up with him to bury his father. 15And when the brethren of Joseph saw that their father was dead, they said, Let us take heed, lest at any time Joseph remember evil against us, and recompense to us all the evils which we have done against him. 16And they came to Joseph, and said, Thy father adjured us before his death, saying, 17Thus say ye to Joseph, Forgive them their injustice and their sin, forasmuch as they have done thee evil; and now pardon the injustice of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept while they spoke to him. 18And they came to him and said, We, these persons, are thy servants. 19And Joseph said to them, Fear not, for I am God's. 20Ye took counsel against me for evil, but God took counsel for me for good, that the matter might be as it is to-day, and much people might be fed. 21And he said to them, Fear not, I will maintain you, and your families: and he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them. 22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his brethren, and all the family of his father; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23And Joseph saw the children of Ephraim to the third generation; and the sons of Machir the son of Manasse were borne on the sides of Joseph. 24And Joseph spoke to his brethren, saying, I die, and God will surely visit you, and will bring you out of this land to the land concerning which God sware to our fathers, Abraam, Isaac, and Jacob. 25And Joseph adjured the sons of Israel, saying, At the visitation with which God shall visit you, then ye shall carry up my bones hence with you. 26And Joseph died, aged an hundred and ten years; and they prepared his corpse, and put him in a coffin in Egypt.
Old Testament (Vespers): Proverbs 31:8-32
Translation: Brenton's English Septuagint
10Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones. 11The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils. 12For she employs all her living for her husband's good. 13Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands. 14She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood. 15And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and appointed tasks to her maidens. 16She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession. 17She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work. 18And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night. 19She reaches forth her arms to needful works, and applies her hands to the spindle. 20And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor. 21Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed. 22She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet. 23And her husband becomes a distinguished person in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land. 24She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue. 25She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days. 26The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness. 27But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law. 28And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her. 29Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all. 30Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear of the Lord. 31Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.