a thread opens
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
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.
The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.
from Habakkuk 3:7
This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you.
from Exodus 15:14
I will send my fear before you, and will destroy all the people to whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
from Deuteronomy 2:25
You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
from Exodus 23:27
Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows upon your strings against the face of them.
from Psalms 18:40
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
But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the pagans.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
from Malachi 1:14
And said, I beg you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
from Psalms 47:2
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.
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
from Philippians 2:17
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
from I Peter 2:5 · a strong link
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
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but whatever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
from John 14:26
And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, do not be anxious how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:
from Mark 13:11
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
from Luke 12:11
Therefore, look, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
from Matthew 10:17 · a strong link
Now there were in the church at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
from Matthew 23:34
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.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
from I Corinthians 12:28
For an overseer must be blameless, as the steward of God; not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
from Acts 20:28
And do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit;
from Titus 1:7
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
from Ephesians 5:18 · a strong link
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
from I Thessalonians 5:7
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.
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
Therefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
from I Chronicles 28:9
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
from Hebrews 12:28
You, even you, are to be feared: and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry?
from Psalms 89:7
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:
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
from I Corinthians 5:7
Therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name:
Look, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
from Philippians 2:9
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Habakkuk 3:7 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