Composite 11 - Judges 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21 (Vespers, 2nd reading)
- 1
- In those days, there was a certain man of the tribe of Dan, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and bore not. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren. But you shall conceive and bear a son. And now beware and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be consecrated to God from the womb.”
- 2
- And the woman went and spoke to her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very bright. And he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; and now, drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, even until the day of his death.”
- 3
- Then Manoah prayed to God and said, “O Lord, let the man of God whom Thou didst send come again to us, and teach us what we are to do with the child that will be born.” And the angel of the Lord came to Manoah, and said, “Of all things that I said to your wife, let her keep. Let her eat nothing that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink.”
- 4
- And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, that, when your words come to pass, we may glorify you?” And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask concerning my name, whereas it is wonderful?” And the angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife.