Judah’s Security

12 An Oracle

The word of the Lord concerning Israel.
A declaration of the Lord,
who stretched out the heavens,(A)
laid the foundation of the earth,(B)
and formed the spirit of man within him.

“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering(C) for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.(D) On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness.(E) I will keep a watchful eye on(F) the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: The residents of Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of Hosts, their God. On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and the left, while Jerusalem continues to be inhabited on its site, in Jerusalem. The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of David’s house and the glory of Jerusalem’s residents may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that on that day the one who is weakest among them will be like David on that day, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord, before them. On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Mourning for the Pierced One

10 “Then I will pour out a spirit[a](G) of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at[b] Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn.(H) 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s[c](I) house by itself and their women by themselves; 13 the family of Levi’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Shimei[d](J) by itself and their women by themselves; 14 all the remaining families, every family by itself, and their women by themselves.

God’s People Cleansed

13 “On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.(K) On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will remove the prophets[e] and the unclean spirit from the land. If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will say to him: You cannot remain alive because you have spoken falsely in the name of Yahweh. When he prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will pierce him through.(L) On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not put on a hairy cloak(M) in order to deceive. He will say: I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased[f] me as a servant since my youth.(N) If someone asks him: What are these wounds(O) on your chest?[g]—then he will answer: I received the wounds in the house of my friends.

Sword, awake against My shepherd,
against the man who is My associate—
this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;(P)
I will also turn My hand against the little ones.
In the whole land—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
two-thirds[h] will be cut off and die,
but a third will be left in it.
I will put this third through the fire;
I will refine them as silver is refined
and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
and I will answer them.
I will say: They are My people,
and they will say: Yahweh is our God.”

The Lord’s Triumph and Reign

14 A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle.(Q) The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.

Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as He fights on a day of battle.(R) On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,(S) which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south. You will flee by My mountain valley,[i] for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled[j] from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.(T) Then the Lord my God will come and all the holy ones with Him.[k](U)

On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight[l] will diminish.[m](V) It will be a day known only to Yahweh,(W) without day or night, but there will be light at evening.

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem,(X) half of it toward the eastern sea[n] and the other half toward the western sea,[o] in summer and winter alike. On that day Yahweh will become King over all the earth(Y)—Yahweh alone, and His name alone.(Z) 10 All the land from Geba(AA) to Rimmon(AB) south of Jerusalem will be changed into a plain. But Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain[p] on its site from the Benjamin Gate(AC) to the place of the First Gate,[q] to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.(AD) 11 People will live there, and never again will there be a curse of complete destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell in security.

12 This will be the plague the Lord strikes all the peoples with, who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13 On that day a great panic from the Lord will be among them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of one will rise against the other. 14 Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected: gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance.(AE) 15 The same plague as the previous one will strike[r] the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the animals that are in those camps.

16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths.(AF) 17 Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, rain will not fall on them. 18 And if the people[s] of Egypt will not go up and enter, then rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague the Lord inflicts on the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Booths. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Booths.

20 On that day, the words

HOLY TO THE LORD

will be on the bells of the horses.(AG) The pots in the house of the Lord will be like the sprinkling basins before the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of Hosts. Everyone who sacrifices will come and take some of the pots to cook in. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite[t] in the house of the Lord of Hosts.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 12:10 Or out the Spirit
  2. Zechariah 12:10 Or to
  3. Zechariah 12:12 = a son of David
  4. Zechariah 12:13 = a descendant of Levi
  5. Zechariah 13:2 = false prophets
  6. Zechariah 13:5 Or sold
  7. Zechariah 13:6 Lit wounds between your hands
  8. Zechariah 13:8 Lit two-thirds in it
  9. Zechariah 14:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Sym, Tg read You will be blocked—the valley of My mountains
  10. Zechariah 14:5 LXX reads It will be blocked as it was blocked
  11. Zechariah 14:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg, Tg, Syr; other Hb mss read you
  12. Zechariah 14:6 Lit light; the precious things
  13. Zechariah 14:6 LXX, Sym, Syr, Tg, Vg read no light or cold or ice
  14. Zechariah 14:8 = the Dead Sea
  15. Zechariah 14:8 = the Mediterranean Sea
  16. Zechariah 14:10 Or will be inhabited
  17. Zechariah 14:10 Or the former gate
  18. Zechariah 14:15 Lit be on
  19. Zechariah 14:18 Lit family
  20. Zechariah 14:21 Or merchant

Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed

12 A prophecy:(A) The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

The Lord, who stretches out the heavens,(B) who lays the foundation of the earth,(C) and who forms the human spirit within a person,(D) declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup(E) that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling.(F) Judah(G) will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations(H) of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock(I) for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure(J) themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.(K) Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong,(L) because the Lord Almighty is their God.’

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot(M) in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume(N) all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact(O) in her place.

“The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah.(P) On that day the Lord will shield(Q) those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest(R) among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God,(S) like the angel of the Lord going before(T) them. On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations(U) that attack Jerusalem.(V)

Mourning for the One They Pierced

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a](W) of grace and supplication.(X) They will look on[b] me, the one they have pierced,(Y) and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,(Z) and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.(AA) 11 On that day the weeping(AB) in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.(AC) 12 The land will mourn,(AD) each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives.(AE)

Cleansing From Sin

13 “On that day a fountain(AF) will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse(AG) them from sin and impurity.

“On that day, I will banish the names of the idols(AH) from the land, and they will be remembered no more,”(AI) declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets(AJ) and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies(AK) in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.(AL)

“On that day every prophet will be ashamed(AM) of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment(AN) of hair(AO) in order to deceive.(AP) Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.[c](AQ) If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body[d]?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

“Awake, sword,(AR) against my shepherd,(AS)
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,(AT)
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
    “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
    yet one-third will be left in it.(AU)
This third I will put into the fire;(AV)
    I will refine them like silver(AW)
    and test them like gold.(AX)
They will call(AY) on my name(AZ)
    and I will answer(BA) them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’(BB)
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.(BC)’”

The Lord Comes and Reigns

14 A day of the Lord(BD) is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions(BE) will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

I will gather all the nations(BF) to Jerusalem to fight against it;(BG) the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.(BH) Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.(BI) Then the Lord will go out and fight(BJ) against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.(BK) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,(BL) east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split(BM) in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake[e](BN) in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come,(BO) and all the holy ones with him.(BP)

On that day there will be neither sunlight(BQ) nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique(BR) day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night.(BS) When evening comes, there will be light.(BT)

On that day living water(BU) will flow(BV) out from Jerusalem, half of it east(BW) to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.(BX)

The Lord will be king(BY) over the whole earth.(BZ) On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.(CA)

10 The whole land, from Geba(CB) to Rimmon,(CC) south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up(CD) high from the Benjamin Gate(CE) to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,(CF) and from the Tower of Hananel(CG) to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.(CH) 11 It will be inhabited;(CI) never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.(CJ)

12 This is the plague with which the Lord will strike(CK) all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.(CL) 13 On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic.(CM) They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.(CN) 14 Judah(CO) too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected(CP)—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15 A similar plague(CQ) will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

16 Then the survivors(CR) from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship(CS) the King,(CT) the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.(CU) 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship(CV) the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.(CW) 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord[f] will bring on them the plague(CX) he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.(CY) 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.(CZ)

20 On that day holy to the Lord(DA) will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots(DB) in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls(DC) in front of the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy(DD) to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day(DE) there will no longer be a Canaanite[g](DF) in the house(DG) of the Lord Almighty.(DH)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 12:10 Or the Spirit
  2. Zechariah 12:10 Or to
  3. Zechariah 13:5 Or farmer; a man sold me in my youth
  4. Zechariah 13:6 Or wounds between your hands
  5. Zechariah 14:5 Or My mountain valley will be blocked and will extend to Azel. It will be blocked as it was blocked because of the earthquake
  6. Zechariah 14:18 Or part, then the Lord
  7. Zechariah 14:21 Or merchant

Greeting

Paul(A) and Timothy,(B) slaves of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,(C) including the overseers(D) and deacons.(E)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[a] always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day(F) until now.(G) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work(H) in you[b] will carry it on to completion(I) until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right(J) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment(K) and in the defense(L) and establishment of the gospel. For God is my witness,(M) how deeply I miss all of you(N) with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love(O) will keep on growing(P) in knowledge and every kind of discernment,(Q) 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior(R) and can be pure(S) and blameless(T) in[d] the day of Christ,(U) 11 filled with the fruit(V) of righteousness(W) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory(X) and praise of God.

Advance of the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,(Y) 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message[f](Z) fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,(AA) but others out of good will.[g] 16 These do so out of love,(AB) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,(AC) not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.[h] 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives(AD) or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance[i](AE) through your prayers and help from the Spirit(AF) of Jesus Christ.(AG) 20 My eager expectation and hope(AH) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life(AI) or by death.(AJ)

Living Is Christ

21 For me, living is Christ(AK) and dying is gain.(AL) 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful(AM) work(AN) for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ(AO)—which is far better(AP) 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,(AQ) 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow(AR) in Christ Jesus(AS) when I come to you again.

27 Just one thing: Live your life(AT) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm(AU) in one(AV) spirit, with one mind,[j] working side by side for the faith(AW) that comes from the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.(AX) This is a sign of destruction for them,(AY) but of your deliverance(AZ)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe(BA) in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:3 Or for your every remembrance of me
  2. Philippians 1:6 Or work among you
  3. Philippians 1:7 Or because you have me in your heart
  4. Philippians 1:10 Or until
  5. Philippians 1:13 Lit praetorium, a Lat word that can also refer to a military headquarters, to the governor’s palace, or to Herod’s palace.
  6. Philippians 1:14 Other mss add of God
  7. Philippians 1:15 The good will of men, or God’s good will or favor
  8. Philippians 1:17 Lit sincerely, intending to raise tribulation to my bonds
  9. Philippians 1:19 Or vindication
  10. Philippians 1:27 Lit soul

Paul and Timothy,(A) servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,(C) together with the overseers(D) and deacons[a]:(E)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you.(G) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(H) with joy because of your partnership(I) in the gospel from the first day(J) until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(K) until the day of Christ Jesus.(L)

It is right(M) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(N) and, whether I am in chains(O) or defending(P) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love(R) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(S) 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,(T) 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(U) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains(V) for Christ. 14 And because of my chains,(W) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(X)

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.(Y) 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,(Z) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.(AA) 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers(AB) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ(AC) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d](AD) 20 I eagerly expect(AE) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage(AF) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,(AG) whether by life or by death.(AH) 21 For to me, to live is Christ(AI) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(AJ) and be with Christ,(AK) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(AL) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(AM) in the one Spirit,[e] striving together(AN) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(AO) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(AP) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(AQ) you saw(AR) I had, and now hear(AS) that I still have.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.
  2. Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
  3. Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace
  4. Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
  5. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit