Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Second Week of August
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
Here begins the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 1:1-7The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. "Vanity of vanities," said Ecclesiastes "vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. What more has a man for of all his labor, that he does under the sun?" One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stands for ever. The sun rises, and goes down, and returns to his place: and then rises again. Making his round by the south, and turning again to the north: the spirit goes forward surveying all places round about, and returns to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea does not overflow: to the place from where the rivers come, they return, to flow again.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. What thing has been?—the same thing that shall be. What is it that has been done?—the same that shall be done. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: "Behold this is new": for it has already gone before in the ages that were before us. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 1:12-17I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation has God given to the children of men, to be exercised among them. I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite. I have spoken in my heart, saying: "Behold I have become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned. And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labor, and vexation of spirit....
Lesson iv
From the Sermons of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop.
Against concubinageWhile Solomon was given up to the lust of the world, he deemed the same a great and noble pursuit, and expended thereon great labor and care. He built magnificent palaces, he heaped up gold in plenty, he gathered together choirs of singers, and all sorts of servants to minister to the luxury of his table and of his fare. He sought enjoyment for his heart from the charm of gardens and of fair bodies. In short, he gave himself up to the study of all kinds of pleasure and recreation.
Lesson v
But when he came to himself again, and was once more able, as it were, out of that dark pit, to look upon the light of true wisdom, he uttered that saying, so high, so worthy of heaven "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." And you also, if ever you will shake yourselves clear of your debasing habit, will utter this cry, and an higher cry than this, as you turn from your untimely indulgences.
Lesson vi
The ages that had rolled before the time of Solomon had not left to his own so precious an inheritance of wisdom as those which have preceded us have left to us; the old law did not forbid these indulgences, nor pronounce it folly to enjoy other idle luxuries and yet, even with matters so, we can see how low, how worthless, such things be. As for us, we are called to a higher life, we ascend to a nobler stand-point, and brace ourselves in a manlier school and why, but because we are bidden to strive for a life like the life of the spiritual and bodiless powers.
The remaining lessons and collect are from the current Sunday after Pentecost
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 2:1-4I said in my heart: "I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things." And I saw that this also was vanity. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: "Why art thou vainly deceived?" I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards....
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 2:7-9I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem: I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine: And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labor. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labors wherein I had labored in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 9-13 14-17All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, 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. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to get, 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 keep silence, and a time to speak. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 14-17What more has a man for of all his labor? I have seen the trouble, which God has given the sons of men to be exercised in it. He has made all things good in their time, and has delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God has made from the beginning to the end. And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life. For every man that eats and drinks, and sees good of his labor, this is the gift of God.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 3:14-17I have learned that all the works which God has made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God has made that He may be feared. That which has been made, the same continues: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restores that which is past. I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity. And I said in my heart: "God shall judge both the just and the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing."
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 4:1-4I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any. And I praised the dead rather than the living: And I judged him happier than he that is not yet born, nor has seen the evils that are done under the sun. Again I considered all the labors of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbor: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 4:5-8The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh, saying: "Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labor, and vexation of mind." Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: There is but one, and he has not another, no child, no brother, and yet he ceases not to labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, nor does he reflect, saying: "For whom do I labor, and defraud my soul of good things?" in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 4:9-13It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falls, he has none to lift him up. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken. Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knows not to foresee the hereafter.
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 5:1-4Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are upon earth: therefore let your words be few. Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly. If you have vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases Him: but whatsoever you have vowed, pay it. And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 5:5-8Give not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin: and say not before the angel: "There is no providence": lest God be angry at your words, and destroy all the works of your hands. Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and words without number: but do fear God. If you shall see the oppression of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high has another higher, and there are others still higher than these: Moreover there is the king that reigns over all the land subject to him.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 5:9-13A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that loves riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity. Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. And what does it profit the owner, but that he sees the riches with his eyes? Sleep is sweet to a laboring man, whether he eat little or much: but the fullness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen under the sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner. For they are lost with very great affliction: he has begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want.
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men: A man to whom God has given riches, and substance, and honor, and his soul wants nothing of all that he desires: yet God does not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 6:3-6If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, and attains to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he is without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he. For he came in vain, and goes to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten. He has not seen the sun, nor known the distance between good and evil:
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 6:6-9Although he lived two thousand years, and has not enjoyed good things: do not all make haste to one place? All the labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled. What has the wise man more than the fool? and what has the poor man, but to go yonder, where there is life? Better it is to see what you may desire, than to desire that which you canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit.
Lesson i
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 7:1-3Why need a man to seek things that are above him, while he knows not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passes like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun? A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in it we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living think of what is to come.
Lesson ii
Ecclesiastes 7:4-9Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth. "Anger": That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil. It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools. For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity. Oppression troubles the wise man , and shall destroy the strength of his heart. Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous. Be not quickly angry: for anger rests in the bosom of a fool.
Lesson iii
Ecclesiastes 7:11-14Say not: "What do you think that former times were better than they are now?: for this manner of question is foolish. Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and brings more advantage to them that see the sun. For as wisdom is a defense, so money is a defense: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesses them. Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom He has despised.
