a thread opens
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
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.
But if your eye is bad, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
from Ecclesiastes 2:13
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God.
from Matthew 6:23 · a strong link
But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;
from I Corinthians 1:18 · a strong link
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Look, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
from I Corinthians 1:23
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
from Luke 2:34 · a strong link
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.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
from I Corinthians 8:4
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
from Mark 12:29
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from James 2:19
But now thus says the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and he that formed you, O Israel, Do not fear: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
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.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
from I John 4:9
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
from Romans 8:32 · a strong link
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.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it remain in the vine; no more can you, except you remain in me.
from I John 2:27
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
from John 15:4
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock:
from Ephesians 3:17
But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
from Matthew 7:24 · a strong link
A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in his ways.
from Luke 11:28 · a strong link
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children;
from Psalms 128:1 · a strong link
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.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came to Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and remained with him.
from Ephesians 4:11
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
from Acts 21:8 · a strong link
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added to the Lord.
from Acts 6:5 · a strong link
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
from Acts 11:24 · 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.
They that are of a perverse heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
from I Chronicles 29:17
א ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
from Proverbs 11:20
Furthermore then we beg you, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more.
from Psalms 119:1
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
from I Thessalonians 4:1
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:
That you put off your old self, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
from I Corinthians 5:7
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in sensuality, lusts, excess of wine, orgies, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries:
from Ephesians 4:22 · a strong link
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and obscenity of her sexual immorality:
from I Peter 4:3
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Ecclesiastes 2:13 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