The Vigil

from Esther 4:11

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.

a thread opens

Esther 4:11

All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.

Esther 5:1

Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, opposite the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the gate of the house.

from Esther 4:11 · a strong link

I Peter 3:3

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

from Esther 5:1

Isaiah 3:18

In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their crescent ornaments,

from I Peter 3:3

Judges 8:21

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise you, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments on their camels’ necks.

from Isaiah 3:18 · a strong link

Psalms 83:11

Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yes, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

from Judges 8:21


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I Corinthians 8:4

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.

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one father? has not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

from Ephesians 4:6

Malachi 2:11

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god.

from Malachi 2:10

Ezra 9:1

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

from Malachi 2:11


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I John 3:16

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.

Romans 16:4

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

from I John 3:16

Acts 15:32

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words, and confirmed them.

from Acts 15:41


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I John 2:27

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.

I Thessalonians 4:1

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 Colossians 2:6 · a strong link

Micah 6:7

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

from Hebrews 13:16

II Kings 21:6

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with mediums and spiritists: he worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

from Micah 6:7


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I Corinthians 12:28

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.

Jeremiah 3:15

And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

from Ephesians 4:11 · a strong link

I Samuel 13:14

But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you.

from Jeremiah 3:15

Acts 13:22

And when he had removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

from I Samuel 13:14 · a strong link

Psalms 89:19

Then you spoke in vision to your holy one, and said, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

from Acts 13:22


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I Chronicles 29:17

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.

II Corinthians 1:12

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

Colossians 4:3

Also praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains:

from II Thessalonians 3:1


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I Corinthians 5:7

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:

Exodus 12:15

Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

from I Corinthians 5:7

Deuteronomy 16:8

Six days you shall eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God: you shall do no work in it.

from Exodus 12:15

Leviticus 23:36

Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and you shall do no servile work in it.

from Deuteronomy 16:8

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Esther 4:11 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