a thread opens
And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?
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.
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the mute donkey speaking with man’s voice forbade the madness of the prophet.
from Numbers 22:28 · a strong link
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
from II Peter 2:16
My son, walk not you in the way with them; refrain your foot from their path:
from Numbers 22:21
Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
from Proverbs 1:15 · a strong link
But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
from Psalms 1:1 · a strong link
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.
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
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
Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
from Matthew 20:28
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.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
from Daniel 7:14
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.
For we have not followed cleverly devised myths, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
from I John 2:27
Neither give heed to myths and endless genealogies, which promote controversies, rather than godly building up in faith: so do.
from II Peter 1:16
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they not quarrel about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
from I Timothy 1:4
Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to quarreling over opinions.
from II Timothy 2:14
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
from Romans 14:1
Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father in heaven.
from Luke 17:2
a thread opens
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.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
from I Corinthians 12:28
For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
from Romans 12:6 · a strong link
But all these works that one and the very same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
from I Corinthians 7:7
But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.
from I Corinthians 12:11
Yes, so have I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
from II Corinthians 10:13
a thread opens
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.
I the LORD search the heart, I try the inmost thoughts, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link
But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it shall devour all things around it.
from Jeremiah 17:10
And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer faints.
from Jeremiah 21:14
Look, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
from Isaiah 10:18
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:
That you put off your old self, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
from I Corinthians 5:7
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, reveling with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
from Ephesians 4:22
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
from II Peter 2:13
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Numbers 22:28 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