a thread opens
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants have you ordained strength because of your enemies, so that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
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 said to him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?
from Psalms 8:2 · a strong link
But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
from Matthew 21:16
And Jesus answering them said, Have you not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was hungry, and they which were with him;
from Matthew 12:3
Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present.
from Luke 6:3 · a strong link
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
from I Samuel 21:3
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.
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
Seeing it is one God, who shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
from Mark 12:29
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.
from Romans 3:30
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
from Galatians 5:6
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
And the very God of peace sanctify you completely; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
from I John 2:28
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 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 I John 2:27
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.
from I Thessalonians 2:13
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
from Acts 2:41
For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
from Acts 2:47
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
from Romans 14:18
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.
from Romans 16:18
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
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
from Romans 12:6
Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say to this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.
from I Corinthians 13:2
And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
from Matthew 21:21 · a strong link
For truly I say to you, That whoever shall say to this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall happen; he shall have whatever he says.
from Matthew 17:20 · a strong link
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.
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
from I Chronicles 29:17
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
from II Corinthians 1:12
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.
from Hebrews 13:18
Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of sincere faith:
from Acts 24:16
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:
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Look, the Lamb of God!
from I Corinthians 5:7
Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
from John 1:36
For our citizenship is in heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
from Hebrews 12:2
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Psalms 8:2 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