Category: Zechariah

[6:1] I had another vision. This time I saw four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains.

[6:2] The first chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses,

[6:3] the third by white horses, and the fourth by dappled horses.

[6:4] Then I asked the angel, “Sir, what do these chariots mean?”

[6:5] He answered, “These are the four winds; they have just come from the presence of the Lord of all the earth.”

[6:6] The chariot pulled by the black horses was going north to Babylonia, the white horses were going to the west, and the dappled horses were going to the country in the south.

[6:7] As the dappled horses came out, they were impatient to go and inspect the earth. The angel said, “Go and inspect the earth!”—and they did.

[6:8] Then the angel cried out to me, “The horses that went north to Babylonia have quieted the Lord's anger.”

[6:9] The Lord gave me this message.

[6:10] He said, “Take the gifts given by the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, and go at once to the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah. All of them have returned from exile in Babylonia.

[6:11] Make a crown out of the silver and gold they have given, and put it on the head of the High Priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.

[6:12] Tell him that the Lord Almighty says, ‘The man who is called The Branch will flourish where he is and rebuild the Lord's Temple.

[6:13] He is the one who will build it and receive the honor due a king, and he will rule his people. A priest will stand by his throne, and they will work together in peace and harmony.’

[6:14] The crown will be a memorial in the Lord's Temple in honor of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah.”

[6:15] Men who live far away will come and help to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And when it is rebuilt, you will know that the Lord Almighty sent me to you. This will all happen if you fully obey the commands of the Lord your God.

[7:1] In the fourth year that Darius was emperor, on the fourth day of the ninth month (the month of Kislev), the Lord gave me a message.

[7:2] The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to the Temple of the Lord Almighty to pray for the Lord's blessing

[7:3] and to ask the priests and the prophets this question: “Should we continue to mourn because of the destruction of the Temple, by fasting in the fifth month as we have done for so many years now?”

[7:4] This is the message of the Lord that came to me.

[7:5] He said, “Tell the people of the land and the priests that when they fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during these seventy years, it was not in honor of me.

[7:6] And when they ate and drank, it was for their own satisfaction.”

[7:7] This is what the Lord said through the earlier prophets at the time when Jerusalem was prosperous and filled with people and when there were many people living not only in the towns around the city but also in the southern region and in the western foothills.

[7:8] The Lord gave this message to Zechariah:

[7:9] “Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another.

[7:10] Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.’

[7:11] “But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds

[7:12] and made their hearts as hard as rock. Because they would not listen to the teaching which I sent through the prophets who lived long ago, I became very angry.

[7:13] Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed.

[7:14] Like a storm I swept them away to live in foreign countries. This good land was left a desolate place, with no one living in it.”

[8:1] The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:

[8:2] “I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people, a love which has made me angry with her enemies.

[8:3] I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. It will be known as the faithful city, and the hill of the Lord Almighty will be called the sacred hill.

[8:4] Once again old men and women, so old that they use canes when they walk, will be sitting in the city squares.

[8:5] And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing.

[8:6] “This may seem impossible to those of the nation who are now left, but it's not impossible for me.

[8:7] I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken,

[8:8] and will bring them back from east and west to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, ruling over them faithfully and justly.

[8:9] “Have courage! You are now hearing the same words the prophets spoke at the time the foundation was being laid for rebuilding my Temple.

[8:10] Before that time no one could afford to hire either men or animals, and no one was safe from enemies. I turned people against one another.

[8:11] But now I am treating the survivors of this nation differently.

[8:12] They will plant their crops in peace. Their vines will bear grapes, the earth will produce crops, and there will be plenty of rain. I will give all these blessings to the people of my nation who survive.

[8:13] People of Judah and Israel! In the past foreigners have cursed one another by saying, ‘May the same disasters fall on you that fell on Judah and Israel!’ But I will save you, and then those foreigners will say to one another, ‘May you receive the same blessings that came to Judah and Israel!’ So have courage and don't be afraid.”

[8:14] The Lord Almighty says, “When your ancestors made me angry, I planned disaster for them and did not change my mind, but carried out my plans.

[8:15] But now I am planning to bless the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So don't be afraid.

[8:16] These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice—the kind that brings peace.

[8:17] Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence.”

[8:18] The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:

[8:19] “The fasts held in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become festivals of joy and gladness for the people of Judah. You must love truth and peace.”

[8:20] The Lord Almighty says, “The time is coming when people from many cities will come to Jerusalem.

[8:21] Those from one city will say to those from another, ‘We are going to worship the Lord Almighty and pray for his blessing. Come with us!’

[8:22] Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord Almighty and to pray for his blessing.

[8:23] In those days ten foreigners will come to one Jew and say, ‘We want to share in your destiny, because we have heard that God is with you.’”

[9:1] This is the Lord's message: He has decreed punishment for the land of Hadrach and for the city of Damascus. Not only the tribes of Israel but also the capital of Syria belong to the Lord.

[9:2] Hamath, which borders on Hadrach, also belongs to him, and so do the cities of Tyre and Sidon, with all their skill.

[9:3] Tyre has built fortifications for herself and has piled up so much silver and gold that it is as common as dirt!

[9:4] But the Lord will take away everything she has. He will throw her wealth into the sea, and the city will be burned to the ground.

[9:5] The city of Ashkelon will see this and be afraid. The city of Gaza will see it and suffer great pain. So will Ekron, and her hopes will be shattered. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will be left deserted.

[9:6] People of mixed race will live in Ashdod. The Lord says, “I will humble all these proud Philistines.

[9:7] They will no longer eat meat with blood in it, or other forbidden food. All the survivors will become part of my people and be like a clan in the tribe of Judah. Ekron will become part of my people, as the Jebusites did.

[9:8] I will guard my land and keep armies from passing through it. I will not allow tyrants to oppress my people any more. I have seen how my people have suffered.”

[9:9] Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey— on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

[9:10] The Lord says, “I will remove the war chariots from Israel and take the horses from Jerusalem; the bows used in battle will be destroyed. Your king will make peace among the nations; he will rule from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.”

[9:11] The Lord says, “Because of my covenant with you that was sealed by the blood of sacrifices, I will set your people free— free from the waterless pit of exile.

[9:12] Return, you exiles who now have hope; return to your place of safety. Now I tell you that I will repay you twice over with blessing for all you have suffered.

[9:13] I will use Judah like a soldier's bow and Israel like the arrows. I will use the men of Zion like a sword, to fight the men of Greece.”

[9:14] The Lord will appear above his people; he will shoot his arrows like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms from the south.

[9:15] The Lord Almighty will protect his people, and they will destroy their enemies. They will shout in battle like drunk men and will shed the blood of their enemies; it will flow like the blood of a sacrifice poured on the altar from a bowl.

[9:16] When that day comes, the Lord will save his people, as a shepherd saves his flock from danger. They will shine in his land like the jewels of a crown.

[9:17] How good and beautiful the land will be! The young people will grow strong on its grain and wine.

[10:1] Ask the Lord for rain in the spring of the year. It is the Lord who sends rain clouds and showers, making the fields green for everyone.

[10:2] People consult idols and fortunetellers, but the answers they get are lies and nonsense. Some interpret dreams, but only mislead you; the comfort they give is useless. So the people wander about like lost sheep. They are in trouble because they have no leader.

[10:3] The Lord says, “I am angry with those foreigners who rule my people, and I am going to punish them. The people of Judah are mine, and I, the Lord Almighty, will take care of them. They will be my powerful war-horses.

[10:4] From among them will come rulers, leaders, and commanders to govern my people.

[10:5] The people of Judah will be victorious like soldiers who trample their enemies in the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will defeat even the enemy cavalry.

[10:6] “I will make the people of Judah strong; I will rescue the people of Israel. I will have compassion on them and bring them all back home. They will be as though I had never rejected them. I am the Lord their God; I will answer their prayers.

[10:7] The people of Israel will be strong like soldiers, happy like those who have been drinking wine. Their descendants will remember this victory and be glad because of what the Lord has done.

[10:8] “I will call my people and gather them together. I will rescue them and make them as numerous as they used to be.

[10:9] Though I have scattered them among the nations, yet in far-off places they will remember me. They and their children will survive and return home together.

[10:10] From Egypt and Assyria I will bring them home and settle them in their own country. I will settle them in Gilead and Lebanon also; the whole land will be filled with people.

[10:11] When they pass through their sea of trouble, I, the Lord, will strike the waves, and the depths of the Nile will go dry. Proud Assyria will be humbled, and mighty Egypt will lose her power.

[10:12] I will make my people strong; they will worship and obey me.” The Lord has spoken.

[11:1] Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire can burn down your cedar trees!

[11:2] Weep and wail, cypress trees— the cedars have fallen; those glorious trees have been destroyed! Weep and wail, oaks of Bashan— the dense forest has been cut down!

[11:3] The rulers cry out in grief; their glory is gone! Listen to the roaring of the lions; their forest home along the Jordan is destroyed!