a thread opens
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land;
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.
I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
from Song of Solomon 2:12
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
from Hosea 14:5
And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:
from Isaiah 27:6 · a strong link
And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
from Isaiah 37:31
Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
from II Kings 19:30 · a strong link
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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 the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from I Corinthians 8:4
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.
from Revelation of John 1:8 · a strong link
John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits before his throne;
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.
A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be compassionate, be courteous:
from John 13:34
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience;
from I Peter 3:8 · a strong link
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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.
However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
from I John 2:27
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except the rebellion comes first, and that man of lawlessness be revealed, the son of destruction;
from John 16:13
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of demons;
from II Thessalonians 2:3 · a strong link
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
from I Timothy 4:1 · a strong link
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise authority. Presumptuous are they, arrogant, they are not afraid to speak evil of glorious ones.
from II Peter 3:3 · a strong link
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
from II Peter 2:10
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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
Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
from Hebrews 13:24 · a strong link
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
from Hebrews 13:17
And for me, that words may be given to me, so that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
from I Corinthians 4:1
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
from Ephesians 6:19
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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.
And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.
from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link
I beg you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
from II Kings 20:3
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its offices.
from Nehemiah 5:19 · a strong link
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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:
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
from I Corinthians 5:7
Who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
from I Corinthians 15:3
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant offering.
from Galatians 1:4
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Song of Solomon 2:12 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