The Vigil

from I Samuel 18:18

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 18:18

And David said to Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, so that I should be son-in-law to the king?

I Samuel 9:21

And Saul answered, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? why then speak you so to me?

from I Samuel 18:18

I Samuel 15:17

And Samuel said, When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel?

from I Samuel 9:21 · a strong link

I Samuel 10:22

Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come there. And the LORD answered, Look, he has hid himself among the stuff.

from I Samuel 15:17

Numbers 27:21

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

from I Samuel 10:22

Exodus 28:30

And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

from Numbers 27:21 · 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.

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

I Timothy 1:17

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

from Romans 11:36 · a strong link

Psalms 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

from I Timothy 1:17


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.

I Peter 3:8

Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be compassionate, be courteous:

from John 15:12


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 Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

from I John 2:27

I Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

from I Corinthians 2:13

Acts 16:14

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.

from I Corinthians 2:14

Revelation of John 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches in Asia; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

from Acts 16:14


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.

I Peter 2:7

To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the cornerstone,

from Ephesians 2:20 · a strong link

Psalms 118:22

The stone which the builders refused has become the head stone of the corner.

from I Peter 2:7 · a strong link

Luke 20:17

And he saw them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the cornerstone?

from Psalms 118:22 · a strong link

Mark 3:5

And when he had looked around on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

from Luke 20:17


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.

Luke 1:6

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

from Psalms 119:1 · a strong link

Job 1:8

And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil?

from Luke 1:6


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:

Revelation of John 5:6

And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

from I Corinthians 5:7

Revelation of John 7:9

After this I saw, and, look, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

from Revelation of John 5:6

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 Revelation of John 7:9 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from I Samuel 18:18 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