Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Third Week of November
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
Here begins the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 1:1-4In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god [Bel of the Chaldeans]. And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and of the princes—children in whom there was no blemish, well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
Lesson ii
Daniel 1:5-9And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king. Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
Lesson iii
Daniel 1:10-15And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who has appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king. And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: "I you to try your servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as you shall see, deal with your servants." And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate the king's meat.
Lesson iv
From the Book on Virginity of Saint Athanasius, Bishop
Toward the beginningIf any should come and say unto thee, "fast not so often, lest you injure your health," believe them not, neither listen to them. They are but the tools of the great enemy to suggest such a thing to you. Remember how it is written that when the three children, and Daniel, and the other lads, were led captives by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, and they were commanded to eat of his Royal table, and to drink of his wine, Daniel and those three children would not defile themselves with the King's table, but said to the eunuch into whose keeping they had been given, "Give us of the fruits of the earth, and we will eat." And the eunuch answered them, "I fear my lord the King, who has appointed your meat and your drink, lest your faces should appear to the King worse - looking than the other children, who are fed from his Royal table, and he should punish me."
Lesson v
Then they said to him "Prove your servants for ten days, and give us herbs." And he gave them pulse to eat and water to drink and, when he brought them in before the King, their faces appeared fairer than all the children who did eat the portion of the King's meat. See what fasting does: it heals diseases, it dries up the humors of the body, it scares away devils, it purges unclean thoughts, it makes the intellect clearer, it purifies the heart, it sanctifies the body, and in the end it leads a man unto the throne of God. Know that this is not rash talking. You have the testimony of this in the Gospels under the sanction of the Savior Himself. His disciples asked Him why they could not cast out an evil spirit, and He said unto them "This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:28).
Lesson vi
If any man therefore be troubled with an unclean spirit, if he thinks of this, and has recourse to this remedy, namely, fasting, the evil spirit will be quickly compelled to leave him from dread of the power of fasting. Devils take great delight in fullness, and drunkenness, and bodily comfort. There is great power in fasting, and great and glorious things are wrought thereby. How comes it that men work such wonders, and that signs are done by them, and that through them God gives health to the sick, unless it be from their ghostly exercises, and the meekness of their souls, and their godly conversation? To fast is to banquet with Angels, and he that fasts is to be reckoned, so far, among the Angelic host.
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 2:31-35"O king, you saw, and behold there was a great statue: this statue, which was great and high, tall of stature, stood before you, and the its look was terrible. The head of this statue was of fine gold, but the breast and the arms of silver, and the belly and the thighs of brass: And the legs of iron, the feet part of iron and part of clay. Thus you saw, until, without hands, a stone was cut out of a mountain: and it struck the statue upon the feet that were made of iron and of clay, and broke them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of a summer's threshing-floor, and they were carried away by the wind: and there was no place found for them: but the stone that struck the statue, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."
Lesson ii
Daniel 2:36-40"This is the dream: we will also give its interpretation before you, O king. You are a king of kings: and the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, and strength, and power, and glory: And all places where the children of men, and the beasts of the field dwell: He has also given the birds of the air into your hand, and has put all things under your power: you therefore are the head of gold. And after you shall rise up another kingdom, inferior to you, of silver: and a third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over all the world. And the fourth kingdom shall be as iron. As iron breaks into pieces, and subdues all things, so shall that break and destroy all these."
Lesson iii
Daniel 2:41-44"And whereas you saw the feet, and the toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron: the kingdom shall be divided, but yet it shall take its origin from the iron, according as you saw the iron mixed with the muddy clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas you saw the iron mixed with muddy clay, they shall be mingled indeed together with the seed of man, but they shall not stick fast one to another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay. But in the days of those kingdoms the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and His kingdom shall not be delivered up to another people, and it shall break in pieces, and shall consume all these kingdoms, and itself shall stand for ever."
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 3:14-15And Nabuchodonosor the king spoke to them, and said: "Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the golden statue that I have set up? Now therefore if you be ready at whatever hour you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, harp, sackbut, and psaltery, and symphony, and of all kind of music, prostrate yourselves, and adore the statue which I have made: but if you do not adore, you shall be cast the same hour into the furnace of burning fire: and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hand?"
Lesson ii
Daniel 3:16-19Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago answered and said to king Nabuchodonosor: "We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this matter. For behold our God, Whom we worship, is able to save us from the furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us out of your hands, O king. But if He will not, be it known, O king, that we will not worship your gods, nor adore the golden statue which you have set up." This filled Nabuchodonosor with fury: and the countenance of his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it had been accustomed to be heated. And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire.
Lesson iii
Daniel 3:21-24And immediately these men were bound and were cast into the furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their shoes, and their garments. For the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago. But these three men, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire. And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 4:16-19Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour: and his thoughts troubled him. But the king answering, said: "Baltassar, let not the dream and its interpretation trouble you." Baltassar answered, and said: "My lord, may the dream be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies. The tree that you saw, which was high and strong, whose height reached to the skies, and a sight to all the earth: And the branches were most beautiful, and its fruit exceedlying much, food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and the birds of the air had their abode in its branches. It is you, O king, who have grown great and become mighty: for your greatness has grown, and has reached to heaven, and your power unto the ends of the earth."
Lesson ii
Daniel 4:20-22And whereas the king saw a watcher, and a holy one come down from heaven [perhaps an angel], and say: Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of the roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass among the grass, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, till seven times pass over him. This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king. They shall cast you out from among men, and your dwelling shall be with cattle and with wild beasts, and you shall eat grass as an ox, and shall be wet with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the most High rules over the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will.
Lesson iii
Daniel 4:22-25But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots of the tree, should be left: your kingdom shall remain to you after you have known that power is from heaven. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with works of mercy to the poor: perhaps He will forgive thy offences. All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 5:1-6Baltasar the king [i.e. not Daniel, but the son of King Nabuchodonosor] made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles: and every one drank according to his age. And being drunk he commanded that they should bring the vessels of gold and silver which Nabuchodonosor his father had brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king and his nobles, and his wives and his concubines, might drink from them. Then the golden and silver vessels were brought, which he had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem: and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, and of wood, and stone. In the same hour there appeared fingers, like those of the hand of a man, writing over against the candlestick upon the surface of the wall of the king's palace: and the king beheld the joints of the hand that wrote. Then was the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him: and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one against the other.
Lesson ii
Daniel 5:13-17Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, and said to him: "Are you Daniel of the children of the captivity of Juda, whom my father the king brought out of Judea? I have heard of you, that you have the spirit of the gods, and excellent knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom. And now the wise men, the magicians, have come in before me, to read this writing, and interpret it for me: but they could not declare the meaning of this writing. But I have heard of you, that you can interpret obscure things, and resolve difficult things: now if you are able to read the writing, and to show me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and shall have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third prince in my kingdom." To which Daniel responded before the king: "Keep your rewards for yourself, and give the gifts of your house to another: but the writing I will read to you, O king, and show you its interpretation."
Lesson iii
Daniel 5:25-31"And this is the writing that is written: 'MANE, THECEL, PHARES.' And this is the interpretation of the word. 'MANE': God has numbered your kingdom, and has finished it. 'THECEL': you have been weighed in the balance, and have been found wanting. 'PHARES': your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." Then by the king's command Daniel was clothed with purple, and a chain of gold was put about his neck: and it was proclaimed of him that he had power as the third man in the kingdom. The same night Baltasar the Chaldean king was slain. And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom, being threescore and two years old.
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 6:11-15Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying and making supplication to his God. And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: "O king, have you not decreed that every man that makes a request to any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to you, O king, should be cast into the den of the lions?" And the king answered them, saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to violate." Then they answered, and said before the king: "Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Juda, has not regarded your law, nor the decree that you have made: but three times a day he makes his prayer." Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him and even till sunset he labored to save him. But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which the king has made, may be altered.
Lesson ii
Daniel 6:16-20Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: "Your God, whom you always serve, He will deliver you." And a stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him. Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to the lions' den: And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, Whom you always serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?
Lesson iii
Daniel 6:21-27And Daniel answering the king, said: "O king, live for ever: My God has sent His angel, and has shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: before Him justice has been found in me: and before you, O king, I have done no offence." Then the king was exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: "PEACE be multiplied unto you. It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power shall be for ever. He is the Deliverer, and Savior, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and on earth: Who has delivered Daniel out of the lions' den."
Lesson i
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Daniel 9:1-5In the first year of Darius the son of Assuerus of the seed of the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: The first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, concerning which the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, that seventy years should be accomplished of the desolation of Jerusalem. And I set my face to the Lord my God, to pray and make supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and I made my confession, and said: "I beseech Thee, O Lord God, great and terrible, Who keeps the covenant, and and shows mercy to those who love Thee, and keep Thy commandments. We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, and have revolted: and we have gone aside from Thy commandments, and Thy judgments."
Lesson ii
Daniel 9:21-24As I was yet speaking in prayer, behold the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice. And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: "O Daniel, I have come forth to teach you, so that you might understand. From the beginning of your prayers the word came forth: and I have come to show it to you, because you are a man of desires: therefore mark the word, and understand the vision. Seventy weeks are shortened upon your people, and upon your holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the saint of saints may be anointed.
Lesson iii
Daniel 9:25-27Know you therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ the prince, there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall be built again, and the walls in difficult times. And after sixty-two weeks Christ shall be slain: and the people that shall deny Him shall not be His. And a people with their leader that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary: and the end thereof shall be waste, and after the end of the war the appointed desolation. And he shall confirm the covenant with many, in one week: and in the half of the week the victim and the sacrifice shall fall: and there shall be in the temple the abomination of desolation: and the desolation shall continue even to the consummation, and to the end.
In an Office of three lessons, ii and iii above are concatenated and the third is taken from the proper of saints
or the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
