The Vigil

from Ezra 4:2

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

Ezra 4:2

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up here.

II Kings 17:41

So these nations feared the LORD, and served their carved images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they to this day.

from Ezra 4:2

I Kings 18:21

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD is God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

from II Kings 17:41

I Samuel 7:3

And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

from I Kings 18:21 · a strong link

Hosea 6:1

Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck, and he will bind us up.

from Hosea 14:1


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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.

Mark 12:29

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

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

from I Timothy 2:5


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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.

I Peter 3:18

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:

from I John 3:16


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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 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.

from I John 2:27

I John 3:9

Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

from I Peter 1:23

II Corinthians 5:15

And that he died for all, so that they which live should no longer live to themselves, but to him which died for them, and rose again.

from Romans 14:7 · a strong link


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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.

Ephesians 3:5

Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

from I Corinthians 12:28

II Peter 3:2

That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

from Ephesians 3:5 · a strong link

Jude 1:17

But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

from II Peter 3:2 · a strong link

Malachi 4:4

Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

from Jude 1:17

Deuteronomy 4:10

Especially the day that you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

from Malachi 4:4


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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.

I Chronicles 28:9

And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link

Jeremiah 22:16

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? says the LORD.

from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, so that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

from Jeremiah 22:16

Isaiah 53:11

He shall see of the toil of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

from John 17:3


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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:

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

from I Corinthians 5:7

Revelation of John 14:4

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

from John 1:29

James 1:18

Of his own will he fathered us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

from Revelation of John 14:4 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Ezra 4:2 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