a thread opens
I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
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.
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
from Psalms 49:4
And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
from Proverbs 1:6
Do not err, my beloved brothers.
from Mark 4:11
Listen, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?
from James 1:16
To an inheritance imperishable, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,
from James 2:5
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.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
from I Corinthians 8:4
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
from Mark 12:29
And when those living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever,
from Jude 1:25
And all the angels stood around the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
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.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from John 3:16 · a strong link
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, so he opens not his mouth.
from John 1:29 · 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.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it remain in the vine; no more can you, except you remain in me.
from I John 2:27
He who says that he remains in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
from John 15:4 · a strong link
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
Thus says the LORD, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it.
from Matthew 11:29 · a strong link
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
from Jeremiah 6:16
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.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came to Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and remained with him.
from Ephesians 4:11
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
from Acts 21:8 · a strong link
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.
from Acts 6:5
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
from Acts 8:5
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
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
from I Samuel 16:7 · a strong link
To the director of music, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?
from John 7:24
To the director of music, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me: for my soul trusts in you: yes, in the shadow of your wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
from Psalms 58:1
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:
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
from I Corinthians 5:7
Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
from Exodus 13:6
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whoever eats that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
from Exodus 12:15
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Psalms 49:4 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