6
1Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2In the first chariot were red horses. In the second chariot were black horses. 3In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful. 4Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went out toward the south country.” 7The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth. He said, “Go around and through the earth!” So they walked back and forth through the earth.
8Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”
9Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 10“Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12and speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place; and he will build Yahweh’s temple. 13He will build Yahweh’s temple. He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. The counsel of peace will be between them both. 14The crowns shall be to Helem, to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in Yahweh’s temple.
15Those who are far off shall come and build in Yahweh’s temple; and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey Yahweh your God’s voice.”’”
7
1In the fourth year of King Darius, Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev. 2The people of Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech and their men to entreat Yahweh’s favor, 3and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”
4Then the word of Yahweh of Armies came to me, saying, 5“Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? 6When you eat and when you drink, don’t you eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7Aren’t these the words which Yahweh proclaimed by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”
8Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah, saying, 9“Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. 10Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’ 11But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. 12Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law and the words which Yahweh of Armies had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of Armies. 13It has come to pass that, as he called and they refused to listen, so they will call and I will not listen,” said Yahweh of Armies; 14“but I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
8
1The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me. 2Yahweh of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.”
3Yahweh says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the mountain of Yahweh of Armies, ‘The Holy Mountain.’”
4Yahweh of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand because of their old age. 5The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
6Yahweh of Armies says: “If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?” says Yahweh of Armies.
7Yahweh of Armies says: “Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country. 8I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”
9Yahweh of Armies says: “Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built. 10For before those days there was no wages for man nor any wages for an animal, neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbor. 11But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,” says Yahweh of Armies. 12“For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Don’t be afraid. Let your hands be strong.”
14For Yahweh of Armies says: “As I thought to do evil to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and I didn’t repent, 15so again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid. 16These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, 17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate,” says Yahweh.
18The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me. 19Yahweh of Armies says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”
20Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come. 21The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.’ 22Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of Yahweh.” 23Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
9
1A revelation.
Yahweh’s word is against the land of Hadrach,
and will rest upon Damascus—
for the eye of man
and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh—
2and Hamath, also, which borders on it,
Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.
3Tyre built herself a stronghold,
and heaped up silver like the dust,
and fine gold like the mire of the streets.
4Behold, the Lord will dispossess her,
and he will strike her power in the sea;
and she will be devoured with fire.
5Ashkelon will see it, and fear;
Gaza also, and will writhe in agony;
as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed;
and the king will perish from Gaza,
and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7I will take away his blood out of his mouth,
and his abominations from between his teeth;
and he also will be a remnant for our God;
and he will be as a chieftain in Judah,
and Ekron as a Jebusite.
8I will encamp around my house against the army,
that no one pass through or return;
and no oppressor will pass through them any more:
for now I have seen with my eyes.
9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King comes to you!
He is righteous, and having salvation;
lowly, and riding on a donkey,
even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem.
The battle bow will be cut off;
and he will speak peace to the nations.
His dominion will be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11As for you also,
because of the blood of your covenant,
I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.
12Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!
Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.
13For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me.
I have loaded the bow with Ephraim.
I will stir up your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
14Yahweh will be seen over them.
His arrow will flash like lightning.
The Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet,
and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
15Yahweh of Armies will defend them.
They will destroy and overcome with sling stones.
They will drink, and roar as through wine.
They will be filled like bowls,
like the corners of the altar.
16Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people;
for they are like the jewels of a crown,
lifted on high over his land.
17For how great is his goodness,
and how great is his beauty!
Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine the virgins.
10
1Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
2For the teraphim have spoken vanity,
and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
3My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats,
for Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
4From him will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
5They will be as mighty men,
treading down muddy streets in the battle.
They will fight, because Yahweh is with them.
The riders on horses will be confounded.
6“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back,
for I have mercy on them.
They will be as though I had not cast them off,
for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
7Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their heart will rejoice as through wine.
Yes, their children will see it and rejoice.
Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.
8I will signal for them and gather them,
for I have redeemed them.
They will increase as they were before.
9I will sow them among the peoples.
They will remember me in far countries.
They will live with their children and will return.
10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,
and gather them out of Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;
and there won’t be room enough for them.
11He will pass through the sea of affliction,
and will strike the waves in the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
and the pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
12I will strengthen them in Yahweh.
They will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.
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6
1Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2In the first chariot were red horses. In the second chariot were black horses. 3In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful. 4Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went out toward the south country.” 7The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth. He said, “Go around and through the earth!” So they walked back and forth through the earth.
8Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”
9Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 10“Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12and speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place; and he will build Yahweh’s temple. 13He will build Yahweh’s temple. He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. The counsel of peace will be between them both. 14The crowns shall be to Helem, to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in Yahweh’s temple.
15Those who are far off shall come and build in Yahweh’s temple; and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey Yahweh your God’s voice.”’”
7
1In the fourth year of King Darius, Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev. 2The people of Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech and their men to entreat Yahweh’s favor, 3and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”
4Then the word of Yahweh of Armies came to me, saying, 5“Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? 6When you eat and when you drink, don’t you eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7Aren’t these the words which Yahweh proclaimed by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”
8Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah, saying, 9“Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. 10Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’ 11But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. 12Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law and the words which Yahweh of Armies had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of Armies. 13It has come to pass that, as he called and they refused to listen, so they will call and I will not listen,” said Yahweh of Armies; 14“but I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
8
1The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me. 2Yahweh of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.”
3Yahweh says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the mountain of Yahweh of Armies, ‘The Holy Mountain.’”
4Yahweh of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand because of their old age. 5The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
6Yahweh of Armies says: “If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?” says Yahweh of Armies.
7Yahweh of Armies says: “Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country. 8I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”
9Yahweh of Armies says: “Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built. 10For before those days there was no wages for man nor any wages for an animal, neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbor. 11But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,” says Yahweh of Armies. 12“For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Don’t be afraid. Let your hands be strong.”
14For Yahweh of Armies says: “As I thought to do evil to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and I didn’t repent, 15so again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid. 16These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, 17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate,” says Yahweh.
18The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me. 19Yahweh of Armies says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”
20Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come. 21The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.’ 22Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of Yahweh.” 23Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
9
1A revelation.
Yahweh’s word is against the land of Hadrach,
and will rest upon Damascus—
for the eye of man
and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh—
2and Hamath, also, which borders on it,
Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.
3Tyre built herself a stronghold,
and heaped up silver like the dust,
and fine gold like the mire of the streets.
4Behold, the Lord will dispossess her,
and he will strike her power in the sea;
and she will be devoured with fire.
5Ashkelon will see it, and fear;
Gaza also, and will writhe in agony;
as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed;
and the king will perish from Gaza,
and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7I will take away his blood out of his mouth,
and his abominations from between his teeth;
and he also will be a remnant for our God;
and he will be as a chieftain in Judah,
and Ekron as a Jebusite.
8I will encamp around my house against the army,
that no one pass through or return;
and no oppressor will pass through them any more:
for now I have seen with my eyes.
9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King comes to you!
He is righteous, and having salvation;
lowly, and riding on a donkey,
even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem.
The battle bow will be cut off;
and he will speak peace to the nations.
His dominion will be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11As for you also,
because of the blood of your covenant,
I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.
12Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!
Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.
13For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me.
I have loaded the bow with Ephraim.
I will stir up your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
14Yahweh will be seen over them.
His arrow will flash like lightning.
The Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet,
and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
15Yahweh of Armies will defend them.
They will destroy and overcome with sling stones.
They will drink, and roar as through wine.
They will be filled like bowls,
like the corners of the altar.
16Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people;
for they are like the jewels of a crown,
lifted on high over his land.
17For how great is his goodness,
and how great is his beauty!
Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine the virgins.
10
1Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
2For the teraphim have spoken vanity,
and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
3My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats,
for Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
4From him will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
5They will be as mighty men,
treading down muddy streets in the battle.
They will fight, because Yahweh is with them.
The riders on horses will be confounded.
6“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back,
for I have mercy on them.
They will be as though I had not cast them off,
for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
7Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their heart will rejoice as through wine.
Yes, their children will see it and rejoice.
Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.
8I will signal for them and gather them,
for I have redeemed them.
They will increase as they were before.
9I will sow them among the peoples.
They will remember me in far countries.
They will live with their children and will return.
10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,
and gather them out of Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;
and there won’t be room enough for them.
11He will pass through the sea of affliction,
and will strike the waves in the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
and the pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
12I will strengthen them in Yahweh.
They will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.
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