The Vigil

from Isaiah 1:18

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

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Romans 5:20

Moreover the law entered, so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

from Isaiah 1:18

Psalms 79:9

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.

from Psalms 25:11

II Chronicles 14:11

And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.

from Psalms 79:9 · a strong link

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

from II Chronicles 14:11


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.

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, so that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

from Deuteronomy 6:4

I John 5:11

And this is the testimony, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

from John 17:3 · a strong link

I John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

from I John 5:11


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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.

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant offering.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

Hebrews 9:26

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

from Ephesians 5:2


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 16:13

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

from I John 2:27

John 15:26

But when the Helper has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:

from John 16:13 · a strong link

Acts 3:15

And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; of which we are witnesses.

from Acts 2:32

John 5:26

For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;

from Acts 3:15

John 17:2

As you have given him power over all flesh, so that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.

from John 5:26


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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.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link

Exodus 32:31

And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

from Hebrews 13:17

Exodus 20:23

You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make to you gods of gold.

from Exodus 32:31 · a strong link

Zephaniah 1:5

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

from Exodus 20:23

II Kings 17:41

So these nations feared the LORD, and served their carved images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they to this day.

from Zephaniah 1:5


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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.

John 8:31

Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;

from John 1:47


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:

Deuteronomy 22:24

Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the young woman, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife: so you shall put away evil from among you.

from I Corinthians 5:13

Deuteronomy 22:21

Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she has committed folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father’s house: so shall you put evil away from among you.

from Deuteronomy 22:24

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Isaiah 1:18 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