a thread opens
For you have made of a city a heap; of a fortified city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
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.
And the fortress of the high fort of your walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
from Isaiah 25:2
For he brings down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he lays it low; he lays it low, even to the ground; he brings it even to the dust.
from Isaiah 25:12
Cast abroad the rage of your wrath: and look on every one that is proud, and abase him.
from Isaiah 26:5
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
from Job 40:11 · a strong link
a thread opens
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
from Acts 20:21
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
from Matthew 4:17 · a strong link
And said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.
from Mark 1:14
And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
from Matthew 14:2
Others said, That it is Elijah. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
from Matthew 16:14 · a strong link
a thread opens
Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:
And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
from Acts 13:38
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
from II Corinthians 5:18
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
from Romans 5:10 · a strong link
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
from Romans 8:32 · a strong link
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
from Romans 5:6 · a strong link
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
from Romans 5:8 · a strong link
a thread opens
Because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
Before the LORD; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
from Acts 17:31
Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
from Psalms 98:9
And I saw heaven opened, and look, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.
from Psalms 96:13 · a strong link
a thread opens
For truly against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
By stretching forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus.
from Acts 4:27 · a strong link
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
from Acts 4:30
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?
from Acts 3:6
Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.
from Acts 4:7
a thread opens
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you.
To a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you; for you are a stiff-necked people: lest I consume you in the way.
from Acts 7:51
Get you up from among this congregation, so that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
from Exodus 33:3
Speak to the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
from Numbers 16:45
Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment.
from Numbers 16:24
For the LORD had said to Moses, Say to the children of Israel, You are a stiff-necked people: I will come up into the midst of you in a moment, and consume you: therefore now put off your ornaments from you, so that I may know what to do to you.
from Numbers 16:21
a thread opens
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you far hence to the Gentiles.
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 Acts 22:21 · a strong link
At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
from Acts 9:15
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
from II Timothy 4:16 · a strong link
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
from Acts 7:60
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have first place.
from I Corinthians 15:20
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
from Colossians 1:18
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Isaiah 25:2 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