Irmos: The blessed youths in Babylon, braving danger for the laws of their fathers, reviled the mindless command of the ruler, and, united by the fire which burned them not, they chanted a fitting hymn unto the Almighty: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O ye who have received God as a guest, having wisely partaken of nourishment in Bethlehem and rendered up glory with the angels, shepherds and magi, unto the Incarnate One, let us now mystically go to the Jordan, beholding the great mystery which Christ Himself doth accomplish, Whom we exalt supremely for all ages.
Keeping the chief portion of the Law and the prophets, and having established ourselves in love, we shall be emulators of Christ Who in His extreme love took flesh, and hath reconciled us to the Father through baptism, and hath taught us to chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
John received Him who came to wash away the sins of the world with water; but constrained by fear he forbade Him. “I have need to be baptized of Thee,” protested His friend, the voice of the Word, the harbinger of the Sun, to the Bridegroom. “Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!”
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.