Thursday in the Fifth Week of September

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

Matins

De libro Esther

The Lesson is taken from
the Book of Esther

Die autem tértio indúta est Esther regálibus vestiméntis et stetit in átrio domus régiæ, quod erat intérius contra basílicam regis.  At ille sedébat super sólium suum in consistório palátii contra óstium domus.  Cumque vidísset Esther regínam stantem, plácuit óculis ejus et exténdit contra eam virgam áuream quam tenébat manu.  Quæ accédens osculáta est summitátem virgæ ejus, dixítque ad eam rex : Quid vis, Esther regína? quæ est petítio tua?  Etiam si dimídiam partem regni petíeris, dábitur tibi.  At illa respóndit : Si regi placet, óbsecro ut venias ad me hódie et Aman tecum ad convívium quod parávi.  Statímque rex, Vocáte, inquit, cito Aman ut Esther obédiat voluntáti.

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.  Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.  And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.  Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said.

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, mi Rex omnípotens, in dicióne tua cuncta sunt pósita, et non est qui possit resístere voluntáti tuæ : * Líbera nos propter nomen tuum.
V.  Exáudi oratiónem nostram, et convérte luctum nostrum in gáudium.
R.  Líbera nos propter nomen tuum.

R.  O my Lord, the King Almighty!  All things are in thy power, and there is no man that can gainsay thy will : * Deliver us for thy Name's sake.
V.  Hear our prayer, and turn our sorrow into joy.
R.  Deliver us for thy Name's sake.

Egréssus est ítaque illo die Aman lætus et álacer.  Cumque vidísset Mardochæum sedéntem ante fores palatii, et non solum non assurrexísse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessiónis suæ, indignátus est valde ; et, dissimuláta ira, revérsus in domum suam convocávit ad se amícos suos et Zares uxórem suam et expósuit illis magnitúdinem divitiárum suárum fíliorúmque turbam et quanta eum glória super omnes príncipes et servos suos rex elevásset.  Et post hæc ait : Regína quoque Esther nullum álium vocávit ad convívium cum rege, præter me, apud quam étiam cras cum rege pransúrus sum ; et cum hæc ómnia hábeam, nihil me habére puto, quámdiu vídero Mardochæum Judæum sedéntem ante fores régias.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignátion against Mordecai.  Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.  And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.  Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.  Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

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

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

R.  Confórta me, Rex, Sanctórum principátum tenens : * Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.
V.  Dómine, Rex univérsæ potestátis, convérte consílium eórum super eos.
R.  Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.

R.  Strengthen me, O King, who reignest over the holy ones ; * Put thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.
V.  O Lord, King of all forces, turn back their device upon themselves.
R.  Put thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.

In Feastdays of Simple rank :

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et da sermónem rectum et bene sonántem in os meum.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Put thou in my mouth clear and well-sounding words.

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

Proper Third Lesson

Responderúntque ei Zares uxor ejus et céteri amíci : Jube parári excélsam trabem habéntem altitúdinis quinquagínta cúbitos, et dic mane regi ut appendátur super eam Mardochæus ; et sic ibis cum rege lætus ad convívium.  Placuit ei consílium et jussit excélsam parári crucem.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

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

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

R.  Spem in álium numquam hábui, prætérquam in te, Deus Israël : * Qui irásceris, et propítius eris, et ómnia peccáta hóminum in tribulatióne dimíttis.
V.  Dómine Deus, Creátor cæli et terræ, réspice ad humilitátem nostram.
R.  Qui irásceris, et propítius eris, et ómnia peccáta hóminum in tribulatióne dimíttis.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Qui irásceris, et propítius eris, et ómnia peccáta hóminum in tribulatióne dimíttis.

R.  I have had no hope in any other but in thee, O God of Israel : * Who art angry, and wilt again shew mercy, and forgivest all the sins of men when they are in affliction.
V.  O Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth! look upon our low estate!
R.  Who art angry, and wilt again shew mercy, and forgivest all the sins of men when they are in affliction.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Who art angry, and wilt again shew mercy, and forgivest all the sins of men when they are in affliction.

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