Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, (A)he went out with his disciples across (B)the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew (C)the place, for (D)Jesus often met there with his disciples. (E)So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, (F)knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, (G)“Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. (H)When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, (I)“Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” (J)This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, (K)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; (L)shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[d] arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they (M)led him to (N)Annas, for he was the father-in-law of (O)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews (P)that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 (Q)Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 (R)but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 (S)The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants[e] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. (T)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 (U)The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken (V)openly (W)to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. (X)I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, (Y)“Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 (Z)Annas then sent him bound to (AA)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 (AB)Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of (AC)the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you (AD)in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and (AE)at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 (AF)Then they led Jesus (AG)from the house of Caiaphas to (AH)the governor's headquarters.[f] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, (AI)so that they would not be defiled, (AJ)but could eat the Passover. 29 (AK)So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, (AL)“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 (AM)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken (AN)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 (AO)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, (AP)“Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, (AQ)“My kingdom (AR)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, (AS)my servants would have been fighting, that (AT)I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, (AU)“You say that I am a king. (AV)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose (AW)I have come into the world—(AX)to bear witness to the truth. (AY)Everyone who is (AZ)of the truth (BA)listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, (BB)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, (BC)“I find no guilt in him. 39 (BD)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, (BE)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[g]

Footnotes

  1. John 18:5 Greek I am; also verses 6, 8
  2. John 18:6 Greek he
  3. John 18:10 Or bondservant; twice in this verse
  4. John 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38
  5. John 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26
  6. John 18:28 Greek the praetorium
  7. John 18:40 Or an insurrectionist

Jesus Arrested(A)

18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley.(B) On the other side there was a garden,(C) and he and his disciples went into it.(D)

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.(E) So Judas came to the garden, guiding(F) a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.(G) They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him,(H) went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”(I)

“Jesus of Nazareth,”(J) they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”(K)

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a](L)

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup(M) the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials(N) arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,(O) the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.(P)

Peter’s First Denial(Q)

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,(R) he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,(S) 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”(T)

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire(U) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.(V)

The High Priest Questions Jesus(W)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues(X) or at the temple,(Y) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.(Z) 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials(AA) nearby slapped him in the face.(AB) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”(AC) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas(AD) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials(AE)

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.(AF) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”(AG)

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,(AH) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”(AI) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.(AJ)

Jesus Before Pilate(AK)

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.(AL) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,(AM) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.(AN) 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.(AO)

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace,(AP) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(AQ)

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom(AR) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.(AS) But now my kingdom is from another place.”(AT)

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.(AU) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”(AV)

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.(AW) 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. John 18:9 John 6:39

A Call to Return to the Lord

In the eighth month, (A)in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet (B)Zechariah, the son of (C)Berechiah, son of (D)Iddo, saying, (E)“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: (F)Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and (G)I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. (H)Do not be like your fathers, (I)to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, (J)Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But (K)they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. Your fathers, where are they? And (L)the prophets, do they live forever? (M)But my words and my statutes, which I commanded (N)my servants the prophets, did they not (O)overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, (P)‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for (Q)our ways and (R)deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

A Vision of a Horseman

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet (S)Zechariah, the son of (T)Berechiah, son of (U)Iddo, saying, “I saw in the night, and behold, (V)a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were (W)red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ (X)The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So (Y)the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, (Z)‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to (AA)patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered (AB)the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, (AC)‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth (AD)remains at rest.’ 12 Then (AE)the angel of the Lord said, (AF)‘O Lord of hosts, (AG)how long will you (AH)have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these (AI)seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered (AJ)gracious and comforting words to (AK)the angel who talked with me. 14 So (AL)the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: (AM)I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 (AN)And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are (AO)at ease; (AP)for while I was angry but a little, (AQ)they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, (AR)I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; (AS)my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and (AT)the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: (AU)My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, (AV)and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again (AW)choose Jerusalem.’”

A Vision of Horns and Craftsmen

18 [a] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, (AX)four horns! 19 And I said to (AY)the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, (AZ)“These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, (BA)“These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come (BB)to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations (BC)who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

[b] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, (BD)a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, (BE)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And behold, (BF)the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, (BG)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited (BH)as villages without walls, because of (BI)the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her (BJ)a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

Up! Up! (BK)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have (BL)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. (BM)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me[c] to the nations who plundered you, (BN)for he who touches you touches (BO)the apple of his eye: “Behold, (BP)I will shake my hand over them, (BQ)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then (BR)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 (BS)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for (BT)behold, I come (BU)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 (BV)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. (BW)And I will dwell in your midst, and (BX)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 (BY)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again (BZ)choose Jerusalem.”

13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Then he showed me (CA)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and (CB)Satan[d] standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, (CC)“The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has (CD)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this (CE)a brand[e] plucked from the fire?” Now (CF)Joshua was standing before the angel, (CG)clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to (CH)those who were standing before him, (CI)“Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, (CJ)I have taken your iniquity away from you, and (CK)I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, (CL)“Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured (CM)Joshua, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and (CN)keep my charge, then you shall (CO)rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among (CP)those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for (CQ)they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring (CR)my servant (CS)the Branch. For behold, on (CT)the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with (CU)seven eyes,[f] I will (CV)engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and (CW)I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come (CX)under his vine and under his fig tree.”

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

And (CY)the angel who talked with me came again (CZ)and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, (DA)a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and (DB)seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are (DC)two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to (DD)the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, (DE)“Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to (DF)Zerubbabel: (DG)Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, (DH)O great mountain? Before (DI)Zerubbabel (DJ)you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward (DK)the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, (DL)“The hands of (DM)Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also (DN)complete it. (DO)Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 (DP)For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see (DQ)the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

(DR)“These seven (DS)are the eyes of the Lord, (DT)which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these (DU)two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these (DV)two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil[g] is poured out?” 13 He said to me, (DW)“Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, (DX)“These are the two anointed ones[h] who stand by (DY)the Lord of the whole earth.”

A Vision of a Flying Scroll

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying (DZ)scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying (EA)scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”[i] Then he said to me, “This is (EB)the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who (EC)steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who (ED)swears falsely[j] shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of (EE)him who swears falsely by my name. And (EF)it shall remain in his house and (EG)consume it, both timber and stones.”

A Vision of a Woman in a Basket

(EH)Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, (EI)“Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is (EJ)the basket[k] that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity[l] in all the land.” And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down (EK)the leaden weight on its opening.

Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! (EL)The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the (EM)land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 1:18 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
  2. Zechariah 2:1 Ch 2:5 in Hebrew
  3. Zechariah 2:8 Or he sent me after glory
  4. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary
  5. Zechariah 3:2 That is, a burning stick
  6. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
  7. Zechariah 4:12 Hebrew lacks oil
  8. Zechariah 4:14 Hebrew two sons of new oil
  9. Zechariah 5:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  10. Zechariah 5:3 Hebrew lacks falsely (supplied from verse 4)
  11. Zechariah 5:6 Hebrew ephah; also verses 7–11. An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
  12. Zechariah 5:6 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts eye

A Call to Return to the Lord

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)

“The Lord was very angry(E) with your ancestors. 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. 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) Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 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

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)

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)

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)

A Man With a Measuring Line

[b]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”(AS)

While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls(AT) because of the great number(AU) of people and animals in it.(AV) And I myself will be a wall(AW) of fire(AX) around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory(AY) within.’(AZ)

“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered(BA) you to the four winds of heaven,”(BB) declares the Lord.(BC)

“Come, Zion! Escape,(BD) you who live in Daughter Babylon!”(BE) For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye(BF) I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.[c](BG) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.(BH)

10 “Shout(BI) and be glad, Daughter Zion.(BJ) For I am coming,(BK) and I will live among you,”(BL) declares the Lord.(BM) 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.(BN) I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(BO) 12 The Lord will inherit(BP) Judah(BQ) as his portion in the holy land and will again choose(BR) Jerusalem. 13 Be still(BS) before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.(BT)

Clean Garments for the High Priest

Then he showed me Joshua(BU) the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[d](BV) standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you,(BW) Satan! The Lord, who has chosen(BX) Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick(BY) snatched from the fire?”(BZ)

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,(CA) and I will put fine garments(CB) on you.”

Then I said, “Put a clean turban(CC) on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements,(CD) then you will govern my house(CE) and have charge(CF) of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.(CG)

“‘Listen, High Priest(CH) Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic(CI) of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.(CJ) See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!(CK) There are seven eyes[e](CL) on that one stone,(CM) and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin(CN) of this land in a single day.

10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit(CO) under your vine and fig tree,(CP)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke(CQ) me up, like someone awakened from sleep.(CR) He asked me, “What do you see?”(CS)

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand(CT) with a bowl at the top and seven lamps(CU) on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees(CV) by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.(CW)

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:(CX) ‘Not(CY) by might nor by power,(CZ) but by my Spirit,’(DA) says the Lord Almighty.

“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.(DB) Then he will bring out the capstone(DC) to shouts(DD) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation(DE) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.(DF) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me(DG) to you.

10 “Who dares despise the day(DH) of small things,(DI) since the seven eyes(DJ) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[f] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”(DK)

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees(DL) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed(DM) to[g] serve the Lord of all the earth.”

The Flying Scroll

I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.(DN)

He asked me, “What do you see?”(DO)

I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.[h]

And he said to me, “This is the curse(DP) that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief(DQ) will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely(DR) will be banished. The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely(DS) by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.(DT)’”

The Woman in a Basket

Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”

I asked, “What is it?”

He replied, “It is a basket.(DU)” And he added, “This is the iniquity[i] of the people throughout the land.”

Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.(DV)

Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork,(DW) and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10 “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

11 He replied, “To the country of Babylonia[j](DX) to build a house(DY) for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”(DZ)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 1:21 In Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4.
  2. Zechariah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:5-17.
  3. Zechariah 2:9 Or says after … eye: “I … plunder them.”
  4. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  5. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
  6. Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line
  7. Zechariah 4:14 Or two who bring oil and
  8. Zechariah 5:2 That is, about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide or about 9 meters long and 4.5 meters wide
  9. Zechariah 5:6 Or appearance
  10. Zechariah 5:11 Hebrew Shinar

Others

Where has your beloved gone,
    O (A)most beautiful among women?
Where has your beloved turned,
    that we may seek him with you?

Together in the Garden of Love

She

My beloved has gone down to his (B)garden
    to (C)the beds of spices,
to (D)graze[a] in the gardens
    and to gather (E)lilies.
(F)I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine;
    he grazes among the lilies.

Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other

He

You are beautiful as (G)Tirzah, (H)my love,
    (I)lovely as (J)Jerusalem,
    (K)awesome as an army with banners.
Turn away your eyes from me,
    for they overwhelm me—
(L)Your hair is like a flock of goats
    leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
(M)Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
    that have come up from the washing;
all of them bear twins;
    not one among them has lost its young.
(N)Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate
    behind your veil.
There are (O)sixty (P)queens and eighty (Q)concubines,
    and (R)virgins without number.
My (S)dove, my (T)perfect one, is the only one,
    the only one of her mother,
    pure to (U)her who bore her.
(V)The young women saw her and called her blessed;
    (W)the queens and (X)concubines also, and they praised her.

10 (Y)“Who is this who looks down like the dawn,
    beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun,
    (Z)awesome as an army with banners?”

She

11 I went down to the nut orchard
    to look at (AA)the blossoms of the valley,
(AB)to see whether the vines had budded,
    whether the pomegranates were in bloom.
12 (AC)Before I was aware, my desire set me
    among (AD)the chariots of my kinsman, a prince.[b]

Others

13 [c] Return, return, O (AE)Shulammite,
    return, return, that we may look upon you.

He

Why should you look upon (AF)the Shulammite,
    as upon (AG)a dance before (AH)two armies?[d]

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 6:2 Or to pasture his flock; also verse 3
  2. Song of Solomon 6:12 Or chariots of Ammi-Nadib
  3. Song of Solomon 6:13 Ch 7:1 in Hebrew
  4. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or dance of Mahanaim

Friends

Where has your beloved(A) gone,
    most beautiful of women?(B)
Which way did your beloved turn,
    that we may look for him with you?

She

My beloved has gone(C) down to his garden,(D)
    to the beds of spices,(E)
to browse in the gardens
    and to gather lilies.
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine;(F)
    he browses among the lilies.(G)

He

You are as beautiful as Tirzah,(H) my darling,
    as lovely as Jerusalem,(I)
    as majestic as troops with banners.(J)
Turn your eyes from me;
    they overwhelm me.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
    descending from Gilead.(K)
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep
    coming up from the washing.
Each has its twin,
    not one of them is missing.(L)
Your temples behind your veil(M)
    are like the halves of a pomegranate.(N)
Sixty queens(O) there may be,
    and eighty concubines,(P)
    and virgins beyond number;
but my dove,(Q) my perfect one,(R) is unique,
    the only daughter of her mother,
    the favorite of the one who bore her.(S)
The young women saw her and called her blessed;
    the queens and concubines praised her.

Friends

10 Who is this that appears like the dawn,
    fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
    majestic as the stars in procession?

He

11 I went down to the grove of nut trees
    to look at the new growth in the valley,
to see if the vines had budded
    or the pomegranates were in bloom.(T)
12 Before I realized it,
    my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people.[a]

Friends

13 Come back, come back, O Shulammite;
    come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!

He

Why would you gaze on the Shulammite
    as on the dance(U) of Mahanaim?[b]

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 6:12 Or among the chariots of Amminadab; or among the chariots of the people of the prince
  2. Song of Songs 6:13 In Hebrew texts this verse (6:13) is numbered 7:1.