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Zechariah 6
New American Standard Bible

The Four Chariots

6 Now I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, (A)four chariots were going out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. 2 With the first chariot were (B)red horses, with the second chariot (C)black horses, 3 with the third chariot (D)white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong (E)spotted horses. 4 So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “(F)What are these, my lord?” 5 The angel replied to me, “These are the (G)four spirits of heaven, going out after taking their stand before the Lord of all the earth, 6 with one of which the black horses are going out to the (H)north country; and the white ones are to go out after them, while the spotted ones are to go out to the (I)south country.” 7 When the strong ones went out, they [a]were eager to go to [b](J)patrol the earth. And He said, “Go, [c]patrol the earth.” So they [d]patrolled the earth. 8 Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have [e](K)appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”

9 The (L)word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 10 “(M)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you shall go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Also take silver and gold, make an ornate (N)crown, and set it on the head of (O)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then say to him, ‘The Lord of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is [f](P)Branch, for He will [g](Q)branch out from where He is; and He will (R)build the temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will (S)bear the majesty and sit and (T)rule on His throne. So He will be a (U)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two [h]offices.”’ 14 Now the (V)crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and [i]Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 (W)Those who are far away will come and [j]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will (X)know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely (Y)obey [k]the Lord your God.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:7 Lit sought to go
  2. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  3. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  4. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walked about through
  5. Zechariah 6:8 Lit pacified My spirit in
  6. Zechariah 6:12 Lit Sprout
  7. Zechariah 6:12 Lit sprout up
  8. Zechariah 6:13 Lit of them
  9. Zechariah 6:14 I.e., Josiah
  10. Zechariah 6:15 Lit build in
  11. Zechariah 6:15 Lit the voice of the Lord
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Zechariah 6
New International Version

Four Chariots

6 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots(A) coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,(B) 3 the third white,(C) and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits[a](D) of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.(E) 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west,[b] and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth.(F) And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.

8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit[c] rest(G) in the land of the north.”(H)

A Crown for Joshua

9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.(I) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown,(J) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua(K) son of Jozadak.[d](L) 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,(M) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.(N) 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he[e] will be a priest(O) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crown will be given to Heldai,[f] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen[g] son of Zephaniah as a memorial(P) in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,(Q) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(R) This will happen if you diligently obey(S) the Lord your God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:5 Or winds
  2. Zechariah 6:6 Or horses after them
  3. Zechariah 6:8 Or spirit
  4. Zechariah 6:11 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak
  5. Zechariah 6:13 Or there
  6. Zechariah 6:14 Syriac; Hebrew Helem
  7. Zechariah 6:14 Or and the gracious one, the
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Ezra 5:3-6:14
New American Standard Bible

3 At that time (A)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them as follows: “(B)Who issued you a decree to rebuild this [a]temple and to finish this structure?” 4 (C)Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building. 5 But (D)the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report could reach Darius, and then the decree concerning it could be sent back.

Enemies Write to Darius

6 This is the copy of the letter that (E)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues (F)the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent the report to him in which it was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8 May it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God which is being built with large stones, and [b]beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is being performed with great care and is succeeding in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders and said to them as follows: ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’ 10 We also asked them their names so as to inform you, in order that we might write down the names of the men who were [c]in charge. 11 So they [d]answered us as follows, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, (G)which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But (H)because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, (I)He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13 However, (J)in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus (K)issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 Also (L)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took them from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one (M)whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 And he said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and have the house of God rebuilt in its place.” 16 Then that Sheshbazzar came and (N)laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is (O)not yet completed.’ 17 And now, if it pleases the king, (P)let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, as to whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

Darius Finds Cyrus’ Decree

6 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a (Q)search was conducted in the [e]archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And in [f]Ecbatana, in the fortress which is (R)in the province of Media, a scroll was found; and the following was written in it: “Memorandum— 3 (S)In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let the [g]temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt, and let [h]its foundations be repaired, its height being [i]sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, 4 (T)with three layers of large stones and [j]one layer of timber. And the cost is to be paid from the [k]royal treasury. 5 Also (U)the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned and [l]brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.’

6 “Now as for you, (V)Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and [m]your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, [n]stay away from there. 7 Leave that work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild that house of God on its site. 8 Furthermore, (W)I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be paid to those people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and that without interruption. 9 And whatever is needed, bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem order, it is to be given to them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and (X)pray for the lives of the king and his sons. 11 And I issued a decree that (Y)any person who violates this decree, a timber shall be pulled out of his house and he shall be impaled on it; and (Z)his house shall be turned into a refuse heap on account of this. 12 May the God who (AA)has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who [o]attempts to [p]change it, so as to destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; it is to be carried out with all diligence!”

The Temple Completed and Dedicated

13 Then (AB)Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had [q]ordered. 14 And (AC)the elders of the Jews [r]were successful in building through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And [s]they finished building following the command of the God of Israel and the decree (AD)of Cyrus, (AE)Darius, and (AF)Artaxerxes king of Persia.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 5:3 Lit house, and so in vv 9, 11, 12
  2. Ezra 5:8 Lit timber is
  3. Ezra 5:10 Lit at their heads
  4. Ezra 5:11 Lit returned us the word
  5. Ezra 6:1 Lit house of the books
  6. Ezra 6:2 Aram Achmetha
  7. Ezra 6:3 Lit house
  8. Ezra 6:3 Or perhaps offerings by fire be offered
  9. Ezra 6:3 About 90 ft. or 27 m
  10. Ezra 6:4 As in LXX; Aram a layer of new timber
  11. Ezra 6:4 Lit king’s house
  12. Ezra 6:5 Lit go
  13. Ezra 6:6 Aram their
  14. Ezra 6:6 Lit be distant
  15. Ezra 6:12 Lit sends his hand
  16. Ezra 6:12 Or violate
  17. Ezra 6:13 Lit sent
  18. Ezra 6:14 Lit were building and succeeding
  19. Ezra 6:14 Lit built and finished
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Ezra 5:3-6:14
New International Version

3 At that time Tattenai,(A) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(B) and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(C) 4 They[a] also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” 5 But the eye of their God(D) was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

8 The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work(E) is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

9 We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(F) 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple(G) that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our ancestors angered(H) the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.(I)

13 “However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree(J) to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple[b] of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple[c] in Babylon.(K) Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar,(L) whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’

16 “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God(M) in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives(N) of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

The Decree of Darius

6 King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(O) stored in the treasury at Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

Memorandum:

3 In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid.(P) It is to be sixty cubits[d] high and sixty cubits wide, 4 with three courses(Q) of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury.(R) 5 Also, the gold(S) and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God.(T)

6 Now then, Tattenai,(U) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(V) and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. 7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:

Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury,(W) from the revenues(X) of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings(Y) to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.(Z)

11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled(AA) on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.(AB) 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,(AC) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius(AD) have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

13 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates(AE) carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching(AF) of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,(AG) Darius(AH) and Artaxerxes,(AI) kings of Persia.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 5:4 See Septuagint; Aramaic We.
  2. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
  3. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
  4. Ezra 6:3 That is, about 90 feet or about 27 meters
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Ezra 4
Ezra 7
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Zechariah 7-8
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.”’”

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
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Zechariah 7-8
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)

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
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