Wednesday in the
Second Week of August

If today be a Feria, the Collect is taken from the preceding Sunday as given in the Ordo.

Matins

De libro Ecclesiástæ

The Lesson is taken from
the Book of Ecclesiastes

Verti me ad ália et vidi calúmnias, quæ sub sole gerúntur, et lácrimas innocéntium et néminem consolatórem, nec posse resístere eórum violéntiæ cunctórum auxílio destitútos.  Et laudávi magis mórtuos quam vivéntes et feliciórem utróque judicávi qui necdum natus est nec vidit mala quæ sub sole fiunt.  Rursum contemplátus sum omnes labóres hóminum et indústrias animadvérti patére invídiæ próximi ; et in hoc ergo vánitas et cura supérflua est.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.  Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.  Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Dómine, Pater et Deus vitæ meæ, ne derelínquas me in cogitátu malígno : extolléntiam oculórum meórum ne déderis mihi, et desidérium malígnum avérte a me, Dómine ; aufer a me concupiscéntiam, * Et ánimo irreverénti et infruníto ne tradas me, Dómine.
V.  Ne derelínquas me, Dómine, ne accréscant ignorántiæ meæ, nec multiplicéntur delícta mea.
R.  Et ánimo irreverénti et infruníto ne tradas me, Dómine.

R.  O Lord, Father and God of my life, leave me not to evil counsels ; give me not a proud look, but turn from me an haughty mind, O Lord.  Turn away from me concupiscence, * And give me not over unto an impudent and froward mind, O Lord.
V.  Leave me not, O Lord, lest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound.
R.  And give me not over unto an impudent and froward mind, O Lord.

Stultus cómplicat manus suas et cómedit carnes suas dicens : Mélior est pugíllus cum réquie, quam plena útraque manus cum labóre et afflictióne ánimi.  Consíderans réperi et áliam vanitátem sub sole.  Unus est et secúndum non habet, non fílium, non fratrem, et tamen laboráre non cessat, nec satiántur óculi ejus divítiis, nec recógitat dicens : Cui labóro, et fraudo ánimam meam bonis?  In hoc quoque vánitas est et afflíctio péssima.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.  Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Magna enim sunt judícia tua, Dómine, et inenarrabília verba tua : * Magnificásti pópulum tuum et honorásti.
V.  Transtulísti illos per Mare Rubrum et transvexísti eos per aquam nímiam.
R.  Magnificásti pópulum tuum et honorásti.

R.  Great are thy judgments, O Lord, and thy words cannot be expressed. *  For thou dost magnify thy people, and glorify them.
V.  Thou hast brought them through the Red Sea, and led them through much water.
R.  For thou dost magnify thy people, and glorify them.

In Feastdays of Simple rank :

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Magnificásti pópulum tuum et honorásti.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For thou dost magnify thy people, and glorify them.

And on such Feastdays of Simple rank, the Third Lesson is read according to the Proper.

Proper Third Lesson

Mélius est ergo duos esse simul quam unum ; habent enim emoluméntum societátis suæ.  Si unus cecíderit, ab altero fulciétur.  Væ soli, quia, cum cecíderit, non habet sublevántem se.  Et si dormíerint duo, fovebúntur mútuo : unus quómodo calefíet?  Et, si quíspiam prævalúerit contra unum, duo resístunt ei ; funículus triplex diffícile rúmpitur.  Mélior est puer pauper et sápiens rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidére in pósterum.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Quæ sunt in corde hóminum, óculi tui vident, Dómine, et in libro tuo ómnia scribéntur : * Homo videt in fácie, Deus autem in corde.
V.  Omnia enim corda scrutátur, et univérsas méntium cogitatiónes intélligit.
R.  Homo videt in fácie, Deus autem in corde.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Homo videt in fácie, Deus autem in corde.

R.  O Lord, thine eyes behold what is in the heart of man, and in thy book are all things written. * Yea, man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.
V.  For the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.
R.  Yea, man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Yea, man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.

The Office of Matins ends after the Third Respond.  The Te Deum is not said, and Lauds normally follows immediately, beginning with the Opening Versicles.  Otherwise, the Conclusion of Matins is read, according to the Rubrics.

Conclusion of Matins
 

After the conclusion of the First Nocturn, the Second Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday.

Second Nocturn