a thread opens
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote opposite the lampstand upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, so that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing:
from Daniel 5:5
Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if perhaps you shall be able to profit, if perhaps you may prevail.
from Daniel 5:15
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth gnats, but they could not: so there were gnats upon man, and upon beast.
from Isaiah 47:12
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
from Exodus 8:18
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
from Exodus 9:11
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
from I Corinthians 8:4
To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
from Deuteronomy 4:39 · a strong link
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God.
from Deuteronomy 4:35 · a strong link
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; neither are there any works like to your works.
from I Samuel 2:2
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
from I John 3:16
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
from Matthew 20:28
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
from Isaiah 53:10
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
from I John 2:27
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
from Hebrews 8:10 · a strong link
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
from Ezekiel 36:26 · a strong link
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
from Jeremiah 32:39
For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
from II Chronicles 30:12
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, so that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;)
from Philippians 2:13
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
from I Corinthians 12:28
An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
from Acts 20:28
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
from I Timothy 3:2 · a strong link
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
from Romans 12:13
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, so that he may have to give to him that needs.
from Hebrews 13:16 · a strong link
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
from I Chronicles 29:17
Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.
from Philemon 1:7
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the affection of Jesus Christ.
from Philemon 1:20
Therefore, my brothers beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
from Philippians 1:8
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Look, the Lamb of God!
from I Corinthians 5:7
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
from John 1:36 · a strong link
And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
from I Peter 1:19
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Daniel 5:5 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table