a thread opens
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
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.
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
from Ecclesiastes 4:13
And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
from Ecclesiastes 9:15
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were angry, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
from Esther 6:2
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
from Esther 2:21
And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.
from I Kings 15:25
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.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
from I Corinthians 8:4 · a strong link
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded you, though you have not known me:
from Deuteronomy 6:4
He pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty.
from Isaiah 45:5
He pours contempt upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
from Job 12:21 · 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.
This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
from I John 3:16
A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
from John 15:12 · a strong link
And now I beg you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
from John 13:34 · 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.
For the truth’s sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever.
from I John 2:27
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
from II John 1:2
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
from I John 1:8
If they sin against you, (for there is no man that sins not,) and you be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives to the land of the enemy, far or near;
from Proverbs 20:9 · a strong link
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
from I Kings 8:46
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
from II Kings 17:18
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.
Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Shepherd the flock of God among you, taking its oversight, not by constraint, but willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready mind;
from Hebrews 13:17 · a strong link
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
from I Peter 5:2
Submit yourselves to every human institution for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
from Titus 3:1
And he said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God the things which are God’s.
from I Peter 2:13
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 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
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
from II Corinthians 1:12 · a strong link
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 2:17 · a strong link
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
from II Corinthians 4:2
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:
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
from I Corinthians 5:7
Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
from I Corinthians 10:17
For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ:
from I Corinthians 12:27 · a strong link
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Ecclesiastes 4:13 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