a thread opens
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD says, that will I speak?
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 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
from Numbers 24:13
And Micaiah said, As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that will I speak.
from Numbers 22:18 · a strong link
The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the LORD.
from I Kings 22:14
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
from Jeremiah 23:28
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
from I Corinthians 3:12
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.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
from I Corinthians 8:4
And said, O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? and rule not you over all the kingdoms of the pagans? and in your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand you?
from Deuteronomy 4:39
After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
from II Chronicles 20:6
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the pagans, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the pagans shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
from Matthew 6:9 · a strong link
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
And now, little children, remain in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
from I John 2:6
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
from I John 2:28 · a strong link
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.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
from I John 2:27 · a strong link
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
from I John 2:20
A brutish man knows not; neither does a fool understand this.
from Proverbs 28:5
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 Psalms 92:6
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
from I Corinthians 2:14 · a strong link
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
from Romans 8:5 · a strong link
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.
Greet all your leaders, and all the saints. They of Italy greet you.
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct.
from Hebrews 13:24 · a strong link
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which is at work also in you that believe.
from Hebrews 13:7
But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
from I Thessalonians 2:13
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
from Romans 6:17
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.
But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits.
from I Samuel 16:7 · a strong link
For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
from Proverbs 16:2
And it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
from Psalms 36:2
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:
The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb mute before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
from I Corinthians 5:7
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
from Acts 8:32 · a strong link
Slay all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter: woe to them! for their day has come, the time of their visitation.
from Jeremiah 51:40
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Numbers 24:13 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