The Vigil

from I Samuel 16:11

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

I Samuel 16:11

And Samuel said to Jesse, Are here all your children? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come here.

I Chronicles 17:7

Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepfold, even from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over my people Israel:

from I Samuel 16:11

II Samuel 6:21

And David said to Michal, It was before the Lord, who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

from I Chronicles 17:7

I Samuel 13:14

But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you.

from II Samuel 6:21 · a strong link

Acts 13:22

And when he had removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

from I Samuel 13:14 · a strong link

I Samuel 16:13

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

from Acts 13:22 · a strong link


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

Revelation of John 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

from Isaiah 44:24


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.

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

from I John 3:16

II Timothy 4:8

From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.

from Titus 2:13 · a strong link

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.

from II Timothy 4:8 · 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 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

I John 3:9

Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

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 I John 3:9

Matthew 13:11

He answered them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

from John 3:3 · a strong link

I Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

from Matthew 13:11

Colossians 1:23

If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature under heaven; of which I Paul am made a minister;

from I Timothy 3:16 · a strong link


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.

Acts 18:2

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came to them.

from Hebrews 13:24

Acts 2:9

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

from Acts 18:2

Acts 16:6

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,

from Acts 2:9


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

II Corinthians 7:13

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yes, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

from Philemon 1:7 · a strong link

I Thessalonians 3:6

But now when Timothy came from you to us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

from II Corinthians 7:6


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:

Acts 8:32

The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb mute before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

from I Corinthians 5:7

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 Acts 8:32 · a strong link

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

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from I Samuel 16:11 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