Font Size
Zechariah 1
The Voice
Zechariah 1
The Voice
1 During the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Persian King Darius, the word of the Eternal One came to the prophet Zechariah (Berechiah’s son and Iddo’s grandson).
Message: 2 The Eternal became very angry with your ancestors. That’s why He turned His back on them. 3 Now, tell your people what the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: “Return to Me, so I may turn back to you.” This is the message the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, burdens you with today, Zechariah.
4 Do not be like your fathers and mothers, whom the prophets of their own time warned, “Here is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: Turn away from your evil thoughts and your evil acts.” Even then they did not listen to Me. That was the message the Eternal One burdened His prophets with a generation ago.
Eternal One (to Zechariah): 5 Where are your ancestors now? And what about the prophets I sent to warn them? They did not live forever, did they? 6 Didn’t My words and My rules that I dictated through My servants the prophets outlive your rebellious ancestors? That’s why they repented eventually and realized, “The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has done to us exactly what He decided He would do if we behaved this way. His punishments match our evil thoughts and acts.”
Zechariah has a series of eight visions one night in early 519 b.c. These visions are filled with symbols, numbers, unusual sights, and distinct sounds. In order to understand what he is seeing, God sends a heavenly messenger to serve as Zechariah’s guide and interpreter. All the visions relate to some aspect of the restoration of Jerusalem and her people.
7 On the 24th day of the 11th month (called Shebat by the Babylonians) of the 2nd year of the reign of Persian King Darius, the word of the Eternal came to me, the prophet Zechariah (Berechiah’s son and Iddo’s grandson). This is what happened: 8 During the night, I had eight visions. I opened my eyes, and there was a man riding a red horse and bringing a message. He was in the middle of a stand of ever-blooming myrtle trees down in the lowest part of the Kidron Valley. Behind him stood horses of red, tan, and white.
This is not just any messenger who comes to Zechariah in his vision; he is a heavenly messenger whom Zechariah addresses as “lord.”
Zechariah: 9 What are they, my lord?
Heavenly Messenger: I will show you.
10 The man standing among the myrtle trees explained.
Heavenly Messenger: The horses and their riders have been sent by the Eternal to patrol the whole earth.
11 And they began to give reports to the Special Messenger of the Eternal One, who was standing among the myrtle trees.
Patrols: We have traveled back and forth across the surface of the whole earth and found it resting peacefully.
Special Messenger of the Eternal: 12 O Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, how long will You keep Your mercy from Jerusalem? How long will You keep Your mercy from the cities of Judah, which have endured Your anger for the last 70 years?
13 The Eternal One answered him, speaking kind and comforting words to the heavenly messenger who had been talking to me. He shared with me the message.
Special Messenger of the Eternal (to Zechariah): 14 Tell everyone these words of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies: “I am very jealous for the people of Jerusalem and Zion. 15 Also, I am very angry with those nations that feel at ease. I was only slightly angry with these other nations, but when they attacked more ruthlessly than I commanded them to, they made the situation much worse for themselves. 16 Here’s what I will do: I, the Eternal One, will turn back to Jerusalem with that mercy they’ve missed for 70 years. My temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem,” says the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies; “surveyors will stretch out their measuring lines over Jerusalem, and craftsmen will return to rebuild it.” 17 You must reiterate to your people what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, says: “My cities will once again be so prosperous, they will overflow. Once again I will comfort the people of Zion, and once again I will choose Jerusalem as My earthly home.”
18 That night I had a second vision of God’s wrath. I looked up and saw four horns.
In a second vision of the power of God’s judgment, God’s people are oppressed by the nations, who are represented by four horns.
Zechariah (to the heavenly messenger): 19 What are these?
Heavenly Messenger: These are the horns of the nations that have been raised in battles to scatter and oppress Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
20 Then the Eternal showed me four craftsmen.
Zechariah: 21 And what are these people coming to do?
Heavenly Messenger: These are the horns of the nations that have scattered the people of Judah, and because of them, no one may lift his head up in dignity. The craftsmen have come to wreak havoc and inflict terror on the nations who own the horns, to strike down those who raised their horns before attacking Judah and sending her people into exile.
撒迦利亞書 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
撒迦利亞書 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
呼喚人民歸向耶和華
1 大流士王二年八月，耶和華對易多的孫子、比利迦的兒子撒迦利亞先知說： 2 「耶和華曾對你們的祖先大發怒氣。 3 因此，你要告訴百姓，萬軍之耶和華說，『你們要歸向我，我就回到你們那裡。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 4 不要像你們的祖先一樣。以前的先知曾呼喚他們要聽從萬軍之耶和華的話，改邪歸正，停止作惡，他們卻置若罔聞，不予理會。這是耶和華說的。 5 現在你們的祖先在哪裡呢？那些先知能活到永遠嗎？ 6 然而，我吩咐我僕人——眾先知的訓言和律例豈不應驗在你們祖先的頭上了嗎？後來他們悔改了，說，萬軍之耶和華按著我們的所作所為報應了我們，正如祂所言。』」
有關騎士的異象
7 大流士王二年十一月，即細罷特月二十四日，耶和華的話傳給了易多的孫子、比利迦的兒子撒迦利亞先知。 8 我在夜間看到異象，見有人騎著一匹紅馬，站在谷中的番石榴樹林間，後面有紅馬、棕馬和白馬騎士。 9 我就問：「主啊，這是什麼意思？」那位跟我說話的天使說：「我會告訴你這是什麼意思。」 10 站在番石榴樹林間的那位對我說：「這些是耶和華派來巡視大地的。」 11 其他騎士向站在番石榴樹林間的那位耶和華的天使報告說：「我們已經巡視了大地，到處都安寧平靜。」
12 耶和華的天使說：「萬軍之耶和華啊，你向耶路撒冷和猶大的城邑發怒已經七十年了，還要多久你才會憐憫他們呢？」 13 耶和華用仁慈、安慰的話回答那位與我說話的天使。
14 那位天使對我說：「你要宣告，萬軍之耶和華說，『我對耶路撒冷，對錫安充滿了火熱的愛。 15 我對安逸的列國充滿憤怒，因為我只是對我的子民稍微不滿，列國卻大肆禍害他們。』 16 因此，耶和華說，『我必懷著憐憫的心回到耶路撒冷，我的殿必在那裡重建，必有準繩丈量耶路撒冷。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』 17 你還要宣告，萬軍之耶和華說，『我的城邑必再次繁榮昌盛，耶和華必再次安慰錫安，揀選耶路撒冷。』」
有關角和工匠的異象
18 我又舉目觀看，見有四個角。 19 於是，我問與我說話的天使：「這是什麼？」他回答說：「這些是驅散猶大、以色列和耶路撒冷的角。」 20 耶和華又讓我看見四個工匠。 21 於是我問：「他們來做什麼？」他說：「這些角驅散了猶大，以致無人能抬頭，但這些工匠是來威嚇列國，並打掉他們用來攻擊和驅散猶大的角。」
Zechariah 1
New International Version
Zechariah 1
New International Version
A Call to Return to the Lord
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius,(A) the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah(B) son of Berekiah,(C) the son of Iddo:(D)
2 “The Lord was very angry(E) with your ancestors. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return(F) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’(G) says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your ancestors,(H) to whom the earlier prophets(I) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways(J) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,(K) declares the Lord.(L) 5 Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words(M) and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?(N)
“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,(O) just as he determined to do.’”(P)
The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.(Q)
8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red(R) horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.(S)
9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?”
The angel(T) who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”(U)
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”(V)
11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord(W) who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”(X)
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long(Y) will you withhold mercy(Z) from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah,(AA) which you have been angry with these seventy(AB) years?” 13 So the Lord spoke(AC) kind and comforting words(AD) to the angel who talked with me.(AE)
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous(AF) for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.(AG) I was only a little angry,(AH) but they went too far with the punishment.’(AI)
16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return(AJ) to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line(AK) will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.(AL)
17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort(AM) Zion and choose(AN) Jerusalem.’”(AO)
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”
He answered me, “These are the horns(AP) that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”
He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns(AQ) against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”[a](AR)
Footnotes
- Zechariah 1:21 In Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4.
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.