Reading 1
A reading from the Book of Job
19:23-27
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing. Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 2
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes
3:1-11
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to
be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task
which God has appointed for men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 3
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
3:1-9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an
affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall
shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and
the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 4
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
4:7-14
But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time,
nor can it be measured in terms of years.
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
He who pleased God was loved;
he who lived among sinners was transported— Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or
deceit beguile his soul;
For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the
innocent mind.
Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was
pleasing to the LORD,
therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand,
nor did they take this into account.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 5
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
25:6-9
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain
he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people
he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" The word of the Lord.
Reading 6
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
35:3-6,10
Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will
the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion
singing, crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 7
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines,
all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 8
A reading from the Book of Proverbs
31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She obtains wool and flax and works
with loving hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 9
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
49:13-16
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.
But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name The word of the Lord.
Reading 10
A reading from the Book of Sirach
3:2-6,12-14
God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is
old; grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to
a father will not be forgotten.
The word of the Lord.
Reading 11
A reading from the prophet Isaiah
Is 49:1-6
Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
The word of the Lord.