a thread opens
And the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
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.
Since you are sent of the king, and of his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God in your hand;
from Esther 1:14
And when he came to the den, he cried with a mournful voice to Daniel: and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
from Ezra 7:14
And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
from Daniel 6:20
Do not be anxious about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
from Luke 18:1 · a strong link
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
from Philippians 4:6 · 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.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
from I Corinthians 8:4 · a strong link
Fear not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? you are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yes, there is no God; I know not any.
from Deuteronomy 6:4
To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
from Isaiah 44:8 · a strong link
For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
from Deuteronomy 4:35 · 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.
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
And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden bowls full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
from Matthew 20:28
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.
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.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
from I John 2:27
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
from I Corinthians 2:13 · a strong link
For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
from I Corinthians 2:4
To which he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
from I Thessalonians 1:5 · a strong link
That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.
from II Thessalonians 2:14 · a strong link
He who says that he remains in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
from I Thessalonians 2:12
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.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
from I Corinthians 12:28
Let the one who is taught in the word share with the one who teaches in all good things.
from I Timothy 5:17
Nor pouch for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet poles: for the workman is worthy of his food.
from Galatians 6:6
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
from Matthew 10:10
And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
from Luke 10:7
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.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Look, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
from I Chronicles 29:17
Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
from John 1:47
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
from John 8:31
And Jesus said to him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
from John 6:66
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:
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 Esther 1:14 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