a thread opens
Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaves the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be completely dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
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.
Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.
from Zechariah 11:17
The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
from Jeremiah 23:1 · a strong link
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
from John 10:10 · a strong link
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,
from II Peter 2:1 · a strong link
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
from Deuteronomy 13:1
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.
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
from I Corinthians 8:4
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 44:24 · a strong link
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;
from Isaiah 42:5
If you sin, what do you do against him? or if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
from Acts 17:25
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.
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
from I John 3:16
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do you.
from Romans 16:4
Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
from I Corinthians 16:1
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.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
from I John 2:27
Be therefore imitators of God, as dear children;
from Colossians 2:6
For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
from Ephesians 5:1
I am the LORD your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
from Leviticus 11:45
And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out from there through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
from Exodus 20:2 · a strong link
And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today.
from Deuteronomy 5:15
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
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
from Hebrews 13:7
And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, who is in the tent of meeting; and shall pour all the blood of the young bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.
And he shall go out to the altar before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the young bull, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar all around.
from Leviticus 4:7 · 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.
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
from I Chronicles 29:17
In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing integrity, dignity, sincerity,
from I Thessalonians 2:10
That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ;
from Titus 2:7
Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
from Philippians 1:10
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:
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 I Corinthians 5:7
And went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.
from Isaiah 53:7 · a strong link
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the King of the Jews?
from John 19:9
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Zechariah 11:17 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