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One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth remains for ever.
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.
For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
from Ecclesiastes 1:4
The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
from Ecclesiastes 6:12
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: you maintain my lot.
from Lamentations 3:24 · a strong link
For you have maintained my right and my cause; you sat in the throne judging right.
from Psalms 16:5
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
from Psalms 9:4 · a strong link
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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.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
from I Corinthians 8:4
And there are varieties of workings, but it is the same God which works all in all.
from Ephesians 4:6
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
from I Corinthians 12:6
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
from Colossians 3:11
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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.
This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
from I John 3:16
But as for brotherly love you need not that I write to you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
from John 15:12
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
from I Thessalonians 4:9 · a strong link
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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.
Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.
from I John 2:27
But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.
from I Peter 1:23
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
from I Peter 1:25
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)
from I John 1:1
And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
from I John 1:2 · a strong link
For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
from I John 3:5 · a strong link
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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.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
from I Corinthians 12:28
That in everything you are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
from Romans 12:6
Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also.
from I Corinthians 1:5 · a strong link
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
from II Corinthians 8:7 · a strong link
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their gift.
from II Corinthians 9:8 · a strong link
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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 our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
from I Chronicles 29:17
But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
from II Corinthians 1:12
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
from II Corinthians 4:2
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
from II Corinthians 11:13
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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:
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
from I Corinthians 5:7
You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any young bull, or sheep, in which is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
from Exodus 12:5
And if there is any blemish in it, as if it is lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
from Deuteronomy 17:1
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Ecclesiastes 1:4 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