Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor

4And we have such faith, through Christ, toward God. 5It is not that we are adequate to think anything of ourselves, as if anything was from us. But our adequacy is from God. 6And he has made us suitable ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7But if the ministration of death, engraved with letters upon stones, was in glory, (so much so that the sons of Israel were not able to gaze intently upon the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance) even though this ministration was ineffective, 8how could the ministration of the Spirit not be in greater glory? 9For if the ministration of condemnation is with glory, so much more is the ministration of justice abundant in glory. 10And neither was it glorified by means of an excellent glory, though it was made illustrious in its own way. 11For if even what was temporary has its glory, then what is lasting has an even greater glory.

5Exalt the Lord our God, and adore the footstool of his feet, for it is holy.

6Moses and Aaron are among his priests, and Samuel is among those who call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heeded them.

7He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies and the precept that he gave them.

8You heeded them, O Lord our God. You were a forgiving God to them, though taking vengeance on all their inventions.

9Exalt the Lord our God, and adore on his holy mountain. For the Lord our God is holy.

17Do not think that I have come to loosen the law or the prophets. I have not come to loosen, but to fulfill. 18Amen I say to you, certainly, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one dot shall pass away from the law, until all is done. 19Therefore, whoever will have loosened one of the least of these commandments, and have taught men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever will have done and taught these, such a one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.