The Vigil

from II Kings 4:28

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

II Kings 4:28

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

Genesis 30:1

And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

from II Kings 4:28

Genesis 29:31

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

from Genesis 30:1 · a strong link

Deuteronomy 21:15

If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son is hers that was hated:

from Genesis 29:31

Genesis 29:33

And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

from Deuteronomy 21:15 · a strong link

Genesis 34:25

And it happened on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

from Genesis 29:33


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.

Romans 11:36

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

from Ephesians 4:6 · a strong link

Hebrews 2:10

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

from Romans 11:36


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.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

Romans 15:1

We then that are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

from Galatians 6:2 · 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.

I Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which is at work also in you that believe.

from I John 2:27

Jeremiah 18:18

Then they said, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

from Jeremiah 44:16

Psalms 57:4

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

from Jeremiah 18:18

Proverbs 30:14

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

from Psalms 57:4

Ecclesiastes 4:1

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and look, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

from Proverbs 30:14


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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.

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

from Ephesians 4:11

Titus 1:3

But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

from Romans 10:14

I Timothy 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

from Titus 1:3 · a strong link

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

from I Timothy 1:1


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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.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.

from I Chronicles 29:17

Psalms 45:3

Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most mighty, with your glory and your majesty.

from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link

John 13:31

Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

from Psalms 21:5


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:

Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

from I Corinthians 5:7

Leviticus 23:12

And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf a he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the LORD.

from Exodus 12:5

Leviticus 1:10

And if his offering is of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

from Leviticus 23:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from II Kings 4:28 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