a thread opens
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that labors: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
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.
Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that labors: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
from Isaiah 13:8
Now why do you cry out aloud? is there no king in you? is your counselor perished? for pangs have taken you as a woman in labor.
from Isaiah 21:3
Look, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images, and with strange vanities?
from Micah 4:9 · a strong link
Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say? and where did they come from to you? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.
from Jeremiah 8:19
Look, I will bring a nation upon you from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you know not, neither understand what they say.
from Isaiah 39:3
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.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
from I Corinthians 8:4 · a strong link
But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to withstand his indignation.
from Deuteronomy 6:4
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
from Jeremiah 10:10
But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.
from Hebrews 10:31
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.
He who says that he remains in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
from I John 3:16
For I have given you an example, so that you should do as I have done to you.
from I John 2:6 · a strong link
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.
from John 13:15
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.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
from I John 2:27
Watch yourselves, that we do not lose what we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward.
from Colossians 2:6
Look, I am coming soon: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown.
from II John 1:8 · a strong link
Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.
from Revelation of John 3:11 · a strong link
Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
from James 5:8
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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.
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
from I Corinthians 12:28
That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
from Ephesians 3:5 · a strong link
But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
from II Peter 3:2 · a strong link
I have shown you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
from Jude 1:17
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely you have received, freely give.
from Acts 20:35 · a strong link
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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.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Look, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
from I Chronicles 29:17
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
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
from John 8:31
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
from John 6:55
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:
But God judges those outside. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
from I Corinthians 5:7
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 I Corinthians 5:13
The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put the evil away from among you.
from Deuteronomy 22:21
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Isaiah 13:8 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