Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs

11:9So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment. 10Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.

12:1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.” 2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened. 4And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf. 5Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street. 6Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern, 7and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it. 8Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!

3And, lest man be turned aside in humiliation, you have said: Be converted, O sons of men.

4For a thousand years before your eyes are like the days of yesterday, which have passed by, and they are like a watch of the night,

5which was held for nothing: so their years shall be.

6In the morning, he may pass away like grass; in the morning, he may flower and pass away. In the evening, he will fall, and harden, and become dry.

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12be numbered? So make known your right hand, along with men learned in heart, in wisdom.

13Return, O Lord, how long? And may you be persuaded on behalf of your servants.

14We were filled in the morning with your mercy, and we exulted and delighted all our days.

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17And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us. And so, direct the works of our hands over us; direct even the work of our hands.

43And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and he healed the boy, and he restored him to his father. 44And all were astonished at the greatness of God. And as everyone was wondering over all that he was doing, he said to his disciples: “You must set these words in your hearts. For it shall be that the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men.” 45But they did not understand this word, and it was concealed from them, so that they did not perceive it. And they were afraid to question him about this word.