The Vigil

from Zechariah 11:16

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.

a thread opens

Zechariah 11:16

For, look, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that are cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that stands still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

Jeremiah 23:2

Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: look, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, says the LORD.

from Zechariah 11:16

Micah 7:4

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your visitation comes; now shall be their perplexity.

from Jeremiah 23:2

Ezekiel 2:6

And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

from Micah 7:4 · a strong link

Jeremiah 1:8

Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

from Ezekiel 2:6 · a strong link

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you, nor forsake you.

from Jeremiah 1:8 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 8:4

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.

Deuteronomy 4:39

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

Isaiah 45:18

For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

from Deuteronomy 4:35 · a strong link

Isaiah 42:5

Thus says God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he that gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it:

from Isaiah 45:18 · a strong link


a thread opens

I John 3:16

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.

John 10:15

As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

from I John 3:16

Isaiah 53:4

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, struck of God, and afflicted.

from John 10:15

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.

from Isaiah 53:4


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I John 2:27

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.

I Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

from I John 2:27

I Corinthians 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

from I Corinthians 2:13 · a strong link

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.

from I Corinthians 1:13

I John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

from Titus 2:14


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I Corinthians 12:28

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.

Ephesians 3:5

Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

from I Corinthians 12:28

Acts 10:28

And he said to them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to associate, or come to one of another nation; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

from Ephesians 3:5

John 18:28

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.

from Acts 10:28

John 11:55

And the Jews’ Passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

from John 18:28

II Chronicles 30:17

For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them to the LORD.

from John 11:55


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I Chronicles 29:17

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.

Jeremiah 17:10

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

Jeremiah 32:19

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for your eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

from Jeremiah 17:10 · a strong link

Jeremiah 16:17

For my eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from my eyes.

from Jeremiah 32:19

II Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from now on you shall have wars.

from Jeremiah 16:17 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 5:7

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:

Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

from I Corinthians 5:7

Leviticus 23:12

And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf a he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the LORD.

from Exodus 12:5

Leviticus 1:10

And if his offering is of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

from Leviticus 23:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Zechariah 11:16 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