The Vigil

from Genesis 21:13

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 21:13

And also of the son of the slave woman will I make a nation, because he is your seed.

Genesis 25:12

Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham:

from Genesis 21:13

I Chronicles 5:10

And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.

from Psalms 83:6

I Chronicles 5:18

The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and sixty, that went out to the war.

from I Chronicles 5:10

Numbers 1:3

From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go to war in Israel: you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

from I Chronicles 5:18


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 44:6

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 I Corinthians 8:4

Isaiah 41:4

Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link

Isaiah 41:26

Who has declared from the beginning, so that we may know? and formerly, so that we may say, He is righteous? yes, there is none that shows, yes, there is none that declares, yes, there is none that hears your words.

from Isaiah 41:4 · a strong link

Isaiah 44:7

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show to them.

from Isaiah 41:26


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.

Revelation of John 1:5

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

I Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

from Ephesians 2:4 · a strong link


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.

John 14:26

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

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.

from John 14:26 · a strong link

Psalms 22:27

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you.

from Acts 1:8 · a strong link

Psalms 86:9

All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord; and shall glorify your name.

from Psalms 72:11

Romans 11:25

For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles have come in.

from Psalms 86:9


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.

Romans 12:6

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

from I Corinthians 12:28

Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

from Romans 12:6 · a strong link

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

from Romans 12:3

James 3:13

Who is a wise man and endowed with understanding among you? let him show by his good conduct his works with meekness of wisdom.

from Romans 12:16 · a strong link

Matthew 21:5

Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey.

from James 3:13


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.

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

I Kings 8:39

Then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)

from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link

Jeremiah 17:10

I the LORD search the heart, I try the inmost thoughts, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

from I Kings 8:39 · a strong link


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:

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, so he opens not his mouth.

from I Corinthians 5:7

John 19:9

And went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.

from Isaiah 53:7 · a strong link

John 18:33

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the King of the Jews?

from John 19:9

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Genesis 21:13 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