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Zechariah 7-9
New Living Translation

A Call to Justice and Mercy

7 On December 7[a] of the fourth year of King Darius’s reign, another message came to Zechariah from the Lord. 2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech,[b] along with their attendants, to seek the Lord’s favor. 3 They were to ask this question of the prophets and the priests at the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction,[c] as we have done for so many years?”

4 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: 5 “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn,[d] was it really for me that you were fasting? 6 And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? 7 Isn’t this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah[e] were well populated?’”

8 Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

11 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. 12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.

13 “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 14 As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.”

Promised Blessings for Jerusalem

8 Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!

3 “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.

4 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. 5 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.

6 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. 8 I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.

9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. 10 Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

11 “But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. 13 Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

14 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.”

18 Here is another message that came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter[f] are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.

20 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. 21 The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.

23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Judgment against Israel’s Enemies

9 This is the message[g] from the Lord against the land of Aram[h] and the city of Damascus, for the eyes of humanity, including all the tribes of Israel, are on the Lord.

2 Doom is certain for Hamath,
    near Damascus,
and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon,
    though they are so clever.
3 Tyre has built a strong fortress
    and has made silver and gold
    as plentiful as dust in the streets!
4 But now the Lord will strip away Tyre’s possessions
    and hurl its fortifications into the sea,
    and it will be burned to the ground.
5 The city of Ashkelon will see Tyre fall
    and will be filled with fear.
Gaza will shake with terror,
    as will Ekron, for their hopes will be dashed.
Gaza’s king will be killed,
    and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod.
    I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will grab the bloody meat from their mouths
    and snatch the detestable sacrifices from their teeth.
Then the surviving Philistines will worship our God
    and become like a clan in Judah.[i]
The Philistines of Ekron will join my people,
    as the ancient Jebusites once did.
8 I will guard my Temple
    and protect it from invading armies.
I am watching closely to ensure
    that no more foreign oppressors overrun my people’s land.

Zion’s Coming King

9 Rejoice, O people of Zion![j]
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
    He is righteous and victorious,[k]
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.
10 I will remove the battle chariots from Israel[l]
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem.
I will destroy all the weapons used in battle,
    and your king will bring peace to the nations.
His realm will stretch from sea to sea
    and from the Euphrates River[m] to the ends of the earth.[n]
11 Because of the covenant I made with you,
    sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
    from death in a waterless dungeon.
12 Come back to the place of safety,
    all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
    that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
13 Judah is my bow,
    and Israel is my arrow.
Jerusalem[o] is my sword,
    and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks.[p]

14 The Lord will appear above his people;
    his arrows will fly like lightning!
The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn
    and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.
15 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people,
    and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones.
They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine.
    They will be filled with blood like a bowl,
    drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.
16 On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people,
    just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.
They will sparkle in his land
    like jewels in a crown.
17 How wonderful and beautiful they will be!
    The young men will thrive on abundant grain,
    and the young women will flourish on new wine.

Footnotes

  1. 7:1 Hebrew On the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on December 7, 518 B.c.; also see note on 1:1.
  2. 7:2 Or Bethel-sharezer had sent Regemmelech.
  3. 7:3 Hebrew mourn and fast in the fifth month. The Temple had been destroyed in the fifth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar (August 586 B.c.); see 2 Kgs 25:8.
  4. 7:5 Hebrew fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months. The fifth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of July and August. The seventh month usually occurs within the months of September and October; both the Day of Atonement and the Festival of Shelters were celebrated in the seventh month.
  5. 7:7 Hebrew the Shephelah.
  6. 8:19 Hebrew in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months. The fourth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of June and July. The fifth month usually occurs within the months of July and August. The seventh month usually occurs within the months of September and October. The tenth month usually occurs within the months of December and January.
  7. 9:1a Hebrew An Oracle: The message.
  8. 9:1b Hebrew land of Hadrach.
  9. 9:7 Hebrew like a leader in Judah.
  10. 9:9a Hebrew O daughter of Zion!
  11. 9:9b Hebrew and is being vindicated.
  12. 9:10a Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 9:13.
  13. 9:10b Hebrew the river.
  14. 9:10c Or the end of the land.
  15. 9:13a Hebrew Zion.
  16. 9:13b Hebrew the sons of Javan.
Listen to Zechariah 7-9, Luke 13
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Zechariah 7-9
New American Standard Bible

7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is (A)Chislev. 2 Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and [a]their men to [b](B)seek the favor of the Lord, 3 speaking to the (C)priests who belong to the house of the Lord of armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Shall I weep in the (D)fifth month [c]and fast, as I have done these many years?” 4 Then the word of the Lord of armies came to me, saying, 5 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months [d]these (E)seventy years, was it actually for (F)Me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and drink, [e]do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 Are these not the words which the Lord (G)proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and (H)carefree along with its cities around it, and the [f](I)Negev and the [g]foothills were inhabited?’”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “This is what the Lord of armies has said: ‘(J)Dispense true justice and practice (K)kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and (L)do not oppress the widow or the [h]orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do (M)not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11 But they (N)refused to pay attention, and [i](O)turned a stubborn shoulder and [j](P)plugged their ears from hearing. 12 They also made their (Q)hearts as hard as (R)a diamond [k]so that they could not hear the Law and the (S)words which the Lord of armies had sent by His Spirit through the (T)former prophets; therefore great (U)wrath came from the Lord of armies. 13 And just as (V)He called and they would not listen, so (W)they called and I would not listen,” says the Lord of armies; 14 “but I [l](X)scattered them with a (Y)storm wind among all the nations whom they did not know. So the land was (Z)desolated behind them [m]so that (AA)no one went back and forth, since they (AB)made the pleasant land desolate.”

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

8 Then the word of the Lord of armies came, saying, 2 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘I am (AC)exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and (AD)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of (AE)Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of armies will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 The Lord of armies says this: ‘(AF)Old men and old women will again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each person with his staff in his hand because of [n]age. 5 And the public squares of the city will be filled with (AG)boys and girls playing in its squares.’ 6 The Lord of armies says this: ‘If it is (AH)too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be (AI)too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of armies. 7 The Lord of armies says this: ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the [o](AJ)east and from the land of the [p]west; 8 and I will (AK)bring them back and they will (AL)live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be (AM)My people, and I will be their God in [q]truth and righteousness.’

9 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘Let your hands be (AN)strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the (AO)prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was (AP)no wage for man nor any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no [r](AQ)peace because of [s]his enemies, and I (AR)sent all the people against one another. 11 But now I will (AS)not [t]treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of armies. 12 ‘For there will be (AT)the seed of peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will provide their (AU)dew; and I will give to the remnant of this people (AV)all these things as an inheritance. 13 And it will come about that just as you were a (AW)curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a (AX)blessing. Do not fear; let your (AY)hands be strong.’

14 “For this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Just as I (AZ)determined to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and I have not (BA)relented, 15 so I have again determined in these days to (BB)do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. (BC)Do not fear! 16 These are the things which you shall do: speak the (BD)truth to one another; (BE)judge with truth and judgment for peace at your [u]gates. 17 Also let none of you (BF)devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love [v](BG)perjury; for all these things are what I (BH)hate,’ declares the Lord.”

18 Then the word of the Lord of armies came to me, saying, 19 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘The fast of the (BI)fourth, the fast of the (BJ)fifth, the fast of the (BK)seventh, and the fast of the (BL)tenth months will become (BM)joy, jubilation, and [w]cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; so (BN)love truth and peace.’

20 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘It will yet turn out that (BO)peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let’s go at once to (BP)plead for the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of armies; [x]I also will go.” 22 So (BQ)many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of armies in Jerusalem, and to (BR)plead for the favor of the Lord.’ 23 The Lord of armies says this: ‘In those days ten people from all the [y]nations will [z](BS)grasp the [aa]garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Prophecies against Neighboring Nations

9 The pronouncement of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, with (BT)Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),

2 And (BU)Hamath also, which borders on it;
(BV)Tyre and (BW)Sidon, [ab]though [ac]they are (BX)very wise.
3 For Tyre built herself a (BY)fortress,
And (BZ)piled up silver like dust,
And (CA)gold like the mud of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord will (CB)dispossess her
And throw her wealth into the sea;
And she will be (CC)consumed with fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.
Gaza too will writhe in great pain;
Also Ekron, because her hope has been ruined.
Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6 And a people of mixed origins will live in (CD)Ashdod,
And I will eliminate the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will remove their blood from their mouth
And their detestable things from between their teeth.
Then they also will be a remnant for our God,
And be like a [ad]clan in Judah,
And Ekron will be like a Jebusite.
8 But I will camp around My house [ae]because of an army,
Because of (CE)him who passes by and returns;
And (CF)no oppressor will pass over them anymore,
For now I have seen with My eyes.
9 (CG)Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your (CH)king is coming to you;
He is [af](CI)righteous and (CJ)endowed with salvation,
(CK)Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a (CL)colt, the [ag]foal of a donkey.
10 And I will (CM)eliminate the chariot from Ephraim
And the (CN)horse from Jerusalem;
And the (CO)bow of war will be eliminated.
And He will speak (CP)peace to the nations;
And His (CQ)dominion will be from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

Restoration of Judah and Ephraim

11 As for you also, because of the (CR)blood of My covenant with you,
I have set your (CS)prisoners free from the [ah]waterless pit.
12 Return to the [ai](CT)stronghold, you prisoners [aj]who have the (CU)hope;
This very day I am declaring that I will restore (CV)double to you.
13 For I will (CW)bend Judah [ak]as My bow,
I will fill the bow with Ephraim.
And I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, (CX)Greece;
And I will make you like a (CY)warrior’s sword.
14 Then the Lord will appear (CZ)over them,
And His (DA)arrow will go forth like lightning;
And the Lord [al]God will blow the (DB)trumpet,
And march in the (DC)storm winds of the south.
15 (DD)The Lord of armies will protect them.
And they will (DE)devour and trample on the (DF)slingstones;
And they will drink and be (DG)boisterous as with wine;
And they will be filled like a sacrificial basin,
Drenched like the (DH)corners of the altar.
16 And the Lord their God will (DI)save them on that day
As the flock of His people;
For they are like the precious stones of a (DJ)crown,
Sparkling on His land.
17 For how great will [am]their (DK)loveliness and (DL)beauty be!
Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the virgins.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 7:2 Lit his
  2. Zechariah 7:2 Lit soften the face of
  3. Zechariah 7:3 Lit to fast
  4. Zechariah 7:5 Lit and this
  5. Zechariah 7:6 Lit is it not you who eat and you who drink
  6. Zechariah 7:7 I.e., South country
  7. Zechariah 7:7 Heb Shephelah
  8. Zechariah 7:10 Or fatherless
  9. Zechariah 7:11 Lit gave
  10. Zechariah 7:11 Lit made their ears heavy
  11. Zechariah 7:12 Lit from hearing
  12. Zechariah 7:14 Lit stormed them away upon all
  13. Zechariah 7:14 Lit from passing and from returning
  14. Zechariah 8:4 Lit the multitude of days
  15. Zechariah 8:7 Lit sunrise
  16. Zechariah 8:7 Lit setting sun
  17. Zechariah 8:8 Or faithfulness
  18. Zechariah 8:10 Or security
  19. Zechariah 8:10 Lit the adversary
  20. Zechariah 8:11 Lit be to the
  21. Zechariah 8:16 I.e., the place where court was held
  22. Zechariah 8:17 Lit a false oath
  23. Zechariah 8:19 Or goodly
  24. Zechariah 8:21 Or let me go too
  25. Zechariah 8:23 Lit languages of the nations
  26. Zechariah 8:23 Lit grasp, and they will grasp
  27. Zechariah 8:23 Lit hem of a garment
  28. Zechariah 9:2 Or because
  29. Zechariah 9:2 I.e., they think they are
  30. Zechariah 9:7 Or chief
  31. Zechariah 9:8 Or as a garrison, so that none will go back and forth
  32. Zechariah 9:9 Or vindicated and victorious
  33. Zechariah 9:9 Lit son of a female donkey
  34. Zechariah 9:11 Lit cistern in which there is no water
  35. Zechariah 9:12 Or Stronghold
  36. Zechariah 9:12 Lit of the hope
  37. Zechariah 9:13 Lit for Me as a bow
  38. Zechariah 9:14 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  39. Zechariah 9:17 Lit his
Listen to Zechariah 7-9, Luke 13
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Zechariah 7-9
New International Version

Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting

7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah(A) on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.(B) 2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat(C) the Lord(D) 3 by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn(E) and fast in the fifth(F) month, as I have done for so many years?”

4 Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: 5 “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted(G) and mourned in the fifth and seventh(H) months for the past seventy years,(I) was it really for me that you fasted? 6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?(J) 7 Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets(K) when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest(L) and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills(M) were settled?’”(N)

8 And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;(O) show mercy and compassion to one another.(P) 10 Do not oppress the widow(Q) or the fatherless, the foreigner(R) or the poor.(S) Do not plot evil against each other.’(T)

11 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly(U) they turned their backs(V) and covered their ears.(W) 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint(X) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.(Y) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.(Z)

13 “‘When I called, they did not listen;(AA) so when they called, I would not listen,’(AB) says the Lord Almighty.(AC) 14 ‘I scattered(AD) them with a whirlwind(AE) among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it.(AF) This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.(AG)’”

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(AH) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return(AI) to Zion(AJ) and dwell in Jerusalem.(AK) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(AL) and the mountain(AM) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(AN)”

4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,(AO) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.(AP)”

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,(AQ) but will it seem marvelous to me?(AR)” declares the Lord Almighty.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.(AS) 8 I will bring them back(AT) to live(AU) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(AV) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(AW)”

9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(AX) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(AY) said who were present when the foundation(AZ) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(BA) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(BB) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(BC) declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(BD) the ground will produce its crops,(BE) and the heavens will drop their dew.(BF) I will give all these things as an inheritance(BG) to the remnant of this people.(BH) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](BI) among the nations, so I will save(BJ) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](BK) Do not be afraid,(BL) but let your hands be strong.(BM)”

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(BN) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(BO) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(BP) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(BQ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(BR) in your courts;(BS) 17 do not plot evil(BT) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(BU) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(BV) fifth,(BW) seventh(BX) and tenth(BY) months will become joyful(BZ) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(CA) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(CB) the Lord and seek(CC) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(CD)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(CE)

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

9 A prophecy:(CF)

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak
    and will come to rest on Damascus(CG)—
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
    are on the Lord—[c]
2 and on Hamath(CH) too, which borders on it,
    and on Tyre(CI) and Sidon,(CJ) though they are very skillful.
3 Tyre has built herself a stronghold;
    she has heaped up silver like dust,
    and gold like the dirt of the streets.(CK)
4 But the Lord will take away her possessions
    and destroy(CL) her power on the sea,
    and she will be consumed by fire.(CM)
5 Ashkelon(CN) will see it and fear;
    Gaza will writhe in agony,
    and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.
Gaza will lose her king
    and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,
    and I will put an end(CO) to the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take the blood from their mouths,
    the forbidden food from between their teeth.
Those who are left will belong to our God(CP)
    and become a clan in Judah,
    and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.(CQ)
8 But I will encamp(CR) at my temple
    to guard it against marauding forces.(CS)
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
    for now I am keeping watch.(CT)

The Coming of Zion’s King

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!(CU)
    Shout,(CV) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,(CW)
    righteous and victorious,(CX)
lowly and riding on a donkey,(CY)
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.(CZ)
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.(DA)
He will proclaim peace(DB) to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River[d] to the ends of the earth.(DC)
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant(DD) with you,
    I will free your prisoners(DE) from the waterless pit.(DF)
12 Return to your fortress,(DG) you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice(DH) as much to you.
13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow(DI)
    and fill it with Ephraim.(DJ)
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
    against your sons, Greece,(DK)
    and make you like a warrior’s sword.(DL)

The Lord Will Appear

14 Then the Lord will appear over them;(DM)
    his arrow will flash like lightning.(DN)
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;(DO)
    he will march in the storms(DP) of the south,
15     and the Lord Almighty will shield(DQ) them.
They will destroy
    and overcome with slingstones.(DR)
They will drink and roar as with wine;(DS)
    they will be full like a bowl(DT)
    used for sprinkling[e] the corners(DU) of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save his people on that day(DV)
    as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
    like jewels in a crown.(DW)
17 How attractive and beautiful they will be!
    Grain will make the young men thrive,
    and new wine the young women.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed
  3. Zechariah 9:1 Or Damascus. / For the eye of the Lord is on all people, / as well as on the tribes of Israel,
  4. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
  5. Zechariah 9:15 Or bowl, / like
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Zechariah 6
Zechariah 10
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Close NLT

Luke 13
New Living Translation

A Call to Repentance

13 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

Parable of the Yeast

20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

The Narrow Door

22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. 25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.[a]”

Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem

31 At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”

32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. 33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’[b]”

Footnotes

  1. 13:30 Greek Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
  2. 13:35 Ps 118:26.
Close NASB

Luke 13
New American Standard Bible

Call to Repent

13 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood (A)Pilate had [a]mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “(B)Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you [b]repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in (C)Siloam fell and killed them were worse [c](D)offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had (E)a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree [d]without finding any. (F)Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now Jesus was (G)teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And [e]there was a woman who for eighteen years had had (H)a [f]sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He (I)laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began (J)glorifying God. 14 But (K)the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus (L)had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “(M)There are six days during which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But (N)the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, (O)does each of you on the Sabbath not untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, (P)a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom (Q)Satan has bound for [g]eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this restraint on the Sabbath day?” 17 And as He said this, all His opponents were being [h]humiliated; and (R)the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven

18 So (S)He was saying, “(T)What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and (U)the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

20 And again He said, “(V)To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 (W)It is like [i]leaven, which a woman took and hid in (X)three [j]sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

Teaching in the Villages

22 And He was passing through one city and village after another, teaching, and (Y)proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24 “(Z)Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and (AA)shuts the door, and you begin standing outside and knocking on the door, saying, ‘(AB)Lord, open up to us!’ and He then will answer and say to you, ‘(AC)I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will (AD)begin saying, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!’ 27 And yet He will [k]say, ‘(AE)I do not know where you are from; (AF)leave Me, all you [l]evildoers.’ 28 (AG)In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 And they (AH)will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, (AI)some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

31 At that very time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away and leave this place, because (AJ)Herod wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that [m]fox, ‘Behold, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I [n](AK)reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless (AL)I must go on My journey today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a (AM)prophet would perish outside Jerusalem. 34 (AN)Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, (AO)just as a hen gathers her [o]young under her wings, and you were unwilling! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘(AP)Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:1 I.e., shed along with
  2. Luke 13:3 Or are repentant
  3. Luke 13:4 Lit debtors
  4. Luke 13:7 Lit and I do not find
  5. Luke 13:11 Lit behold, a woman
  6. Luke 13:11 Lit spirit of sickness
  7. Luke 13:16 Lit behold, eighteen years
  8. Luke 13:17 Or put to shame
  9. Luke 13:21 I.e., fermented dough
  10. Luke 13:21 A Gr term for a Heb measure, totaling about 48 lb. or 22 kg of flour
  11. Luke 13:27 Lit say, telling you
  12. Luke 13:27 Or workers of injustice
  13. Luke 13:32 I.e., crafty, devious person
  14. Luke 13:32 Or am perfected
  15. Luke 13:34 Lit brood
Close NIV

Luke 13
New International Version

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate(A) had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?(B) 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam(C) fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent,(D) you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.(E) 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!(F) Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,(G) 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.(H) She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her,(I) and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,(J) the synagogue leader(K) said to the people, “There are six days for work.(L) So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?(M) 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham,(N) whom Satan(O) has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated,(P) but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(Q)(R)

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God(S) like?(T) What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree,(U) and the birds perched in its branches.”(V)

20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”(W)

The Narrow Door

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.(X) 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,(Y) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’(Z)

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’(AA)

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth,(AB) when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west(AC) and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”(AD)

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem(AE)(AF)

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod(AG) wants to kill you.”

32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’(AH) 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet(AI) can die outside Jerusalem!

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AJ) and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(AK) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[b]”(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:21 Or about 27 kilograms
  2. Luke 13:35 Psalm 118:26
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Luke 12
Luke 14
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New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


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