The Vigil

from Ezekiel 21:14

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

Ezekiel 21:14

You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which enters into their privy rooms.

Leviticus 26:21

And if you walk contrary to me, and will not listen to me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

from Ezekiel 21:14


a thread opens

Leviticus 10:3

Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Isaiah 42:1

Look, my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

from Isaiah 49:3

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, so that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as the learned.

from Isaiah 42:1

Matthew 7:28

And it happened, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

from John 7:46

Mark 6:2

And when the Sabbath day had come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From where has this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given to him, that even such mighty works are worked by his hands?

from Matthew 7:28 · a strong link


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Jude 1:24

Now to him that is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

II Corinthians 11:2

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have betrothed you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

from Colossians 1:22

Isaiah 54:5

For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

from II Corinthians 11:2

Hosea 2:19

And I will betroth you to me for ever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving devotion, and in mercy.

from Isaiah 54:5


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Jude 1:11

Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

II Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

from Jude 1:11 · a strong link

Revelation of John 2:14

But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

from II Peter 2:15 · a strong link


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Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

from Luke 2:14

Luke 2:11

For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

from Isaiah 9:6 · a strong link

Galatians 4:4

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

from Luke 2:11


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Luke 18:7

And shall not God give justice to his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

from Hebrews 10:35

Colossians 3:24

Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.

from Matthew 5:12

I Corinthians 7:22

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

from Colossians 3:24

Galatians 5:13

For, brothers, you have been called to freedom; only do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but by love serve one another.

from I Peter 2:16


a thread opens

Luke 14:26

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

John 12:25

He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

from Luke 14:26 · a strong link

Matthew 16:25

For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

from John 12:25 · a strong link

Mark 8:35

For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

from Matthew 16:25

Luke 17:33

Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

from Mark 8:35

Luke 9:24

For whoever will save his life shall lose it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

from Luke 17:33

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Ezekiel 21:14 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