The Vigil

from Genesis 17:5

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

Genesis 17:5

Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made you.

Romans 4:17

(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were.

from Genesis 17:5

II Peter 3:8

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

from Romans 4:17

Psalms 90:4

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

from II Peter 3:8 · a strong link

Psalms 39:5

Look, you have made my days as a handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: truly every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

from Psalms 90:4

Psalms 62:9

Surely common people are vanity, and people of rank are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

from Psalms 39:5


a thread opens

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.

Isaiah 44:24

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;

from I Corinthians 8:4

Isaiah 44:6

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 Isaiah 44:24

Jeremiah 50:34

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, so that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link

Micah 7:9

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall look on his righteousness.

from Jeremiah 50:34


a thread opens

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.

Matthew 20:28

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

Matthew 26:28

For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

from Matthew 20:28 · a strong link

I Corinthians 11:25

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do you, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

from Matthew 26:28


a thread opens

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

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 I Peter 1:23

John 3:3

Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

from James 1:18

I John 5:1

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

from John 3:3 · a strong link

I John 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

from I John 5:1

Revelation of John 3:21

To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

from I John 5:4


a thread opens

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.

Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct.

from Hebrews 13:24 · a strong link

I Timothy 3:5

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

from Hebrews 13:7

I Timothy 3:15

But if I delay long, so that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

from I Timothy 3:5


a thread opens

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.

Philemon 1:7

For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

from I Chronicles 29:17

Philippians 2:1

If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

from Philemon 1:20

Acts 4:32

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

from Philippians 2:1


a thread opens

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:

Mark 14:12

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples said to him, Where will you that we go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?

from I Corinthians 5:7

Exodus 12:6

And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

from Mark 14:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Genesis 17:5 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