a thread opens
The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king:
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.
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
from Ezra 5:6
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in its cities.
from Ezra 4:9
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
from II Kings 17:24
Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
from II Kings 18:34
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
from Isaiah 10:9
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.
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from I Corinthians 8:4
And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
from Matthew 27:37
And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
from John 19:19 · 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.
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
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
from I Peter 3:18 · a strong link
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.
from I John 1:9
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.
But the Helper, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
from I John 2:27 · a strong link
Therefore (as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you will hear his voice,
from John 14:26 · a strong link
Come now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit:
from Hebrews 3:7 · a strong link
Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth.
from James 4:13 · a strong link
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if you will hear his voice,
from Proverbs 27:1
For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
from Psalms 95:7
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
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
from I Timothy 5:17
And when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.
from I Corinthians 9:5
And immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
from Matthew 8:14
And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
from Mark 1:29
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
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
from John 1:47
And brings it not to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
from Psalms 32:2
And the uncircumcised male whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
from Leviticus 17:4
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:
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
from I Corinthians 5:7
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 Exodus 13:6
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
from Exodus 12:15
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Ezra 5:6 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