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(1:1—8:23)

Vänd tillbaka till Herren

I åttonde månaden av kung Dareios andra regeringsår[a] kom Herrens ord till profeten Sakarja, Berekjas son och Iddos sonson:

Herren var mycket vred på era förfäder. Tala därför till folket: Så säger härskarornas Herre: ’Vänd om till mig, säger härskarornas Herre, så ska jag vända mig till er, säger härskarornas Herre.’ Var inte som era förfäder! För dem predikade de tidigare profeterna: Så säger härskarornas Herre: ’Vänd om från era onda vägar och era onda gärningar.’ Men de lyssnade inte och brydde sig inte om mig, säger Herren. Var är era förfäder nu? Och profeterna? Lever de för evigt? Mina ord och mina förordningar, som jag gett befallning om genom mina tjänare profeterna, nådde ju era förfäder. Då vände de om och sa:

’Så som härskarornas Herre har beslutat att göra med oss, i enlighet med vad våra levnadssätt och våra gärningar har förtjänat, så har han också handlat med oss.’ ”

Mannen bland myrtenträden

Den tjugofjärde dagen i elfte månaden, i månaden shevat, av Dareios andra regeringsår,[b] kom Herrens ord till profeten Sakarja, son till Berekja och sonson till Iddo:

Jag såg en syn om natten, och där var en man som red på en röd häst. Han stod bland myrtenträden i ravinen. Bakom honom stod röda, bruna[c] och vita hästar.

Jag frågade: ”Vad är dessa för något, herre?”

Ängeln som talade med mig svarade: ”Det ska jag visa dig.”

10 Mannen som stod bland myrtenträden sa: ”Herren har sänt dem för att färdas över jorden.”

11 De sa då till Herrens ängel som stod bland myrtenträden: ”Vi har färdats över hela jorden, och där är det lugnt och stilla.”

12 Då svarade Herrens ängel: ”Härskarornas Herre, hur länge ska du dröja med att förbarma dig över Jerusalem och Juda städer? Du har nu varit förbittrad på dem i sjuttio år.” 13 Herren gav ängeln som talade med mig ett svar med goda och tröstande ord.

14 Då sa ängeln som talade med mig: ”Ropa ut: Så säger härskarornas Herre: ’Min lidelse är stark för Jerusalem och för Sion. 15 Men jag är mycket vred på de självsäkra folken, för medan min vrede ännu inte var så stor, gjorde de det onda ännu värre.’

16 Därför säger Herren: ’Jag har vänt tillbaka till Jerusalem i barmhärtighet. Mitt tempel ska byggas där, säger härskarornas Herre, mätsnöret ska dras över Jerusalem.’

17 Ropa igen: Så säger härskarornas Herre: ’Mina städer ska åter flöda över av det goda. Herren ska åter trösta Sion och åter utvälja Jerusalem.’ ”

Fyra horn och fyra smeder

18 Jag lyfte blicken och fick se fyra horn[d]. 19 Jag frågade ängeln som talade med mig: ”Vad är dessa för något?”

Han svarade: ”De är de horn som har skingrat Juda, Israel och Jerusalem.”

20 Sedan visade Herren mig fyra smeder. 21 Jag frågade: ”Vad har dessa kommit för att göra?” Han svarade: ”Där är de horn som skingrade Juda så att ingen orkade lyfta sitt huvud. Men nu har dessa kommit för att sätta skräck i dem och slå av hornen på de folk som lyfte sina horn mot Juda land och skingrade dem.”

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 I oktober-november 520 f.Kr.
  2. 1:7 Den 15 febr. 519 f.Kr.
  3. 1:8 Det hebreiska ordets betydelse är osäker.
  4. 1:18 Horn står för styrka och övermod.

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)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 1:21 In Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4.

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the Word of the LORD came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the Prophet, saying,

“The LORD has been very displeased with your fathers.

“Therefore, say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “Turn to Me,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will turn to you,” says the LORD of Hosts.

“Do not be as your fathers, to whom the former Prophets have cried, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and from your wicked works!”’ But they would not hear or listen to Me,” says the LORD.

“Your fathers. Where are they? And do the Prophets live forever?

“But did not My Words and My Statutes which I Commanded by My servants the Prophets take hold of your fathers? And they returned, and said, ‘As the LORD of Hosts has determined to do to us according to our own ways, and according to our works, so has He dealt with us.’”’”

Upon the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the Word of the LORD came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the Prophet, saying,

I saw by night and beheld a man riding upon a red horse. And he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a hollow. And there were red horses behind him, speckled and white.

Then I said, “O my lord, what are these?” And the Angel that talked with me, said to me, “I will show you what these are.”

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees, answered and said, “These are those whom the LORD has sent to go through the world.”

11 And they answered the Angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have gone through the world. And behold, all the world sits still and is at rest.”

12 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of Hosts! How long will You be unmerciful to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah with whom You have been displeased now these seventy years?”

13 And the LORD answered the Angel that talked with me with good Words and comfortable Words.

14 So, the Angel that communed with me said to me, “Cry out and speak, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “I am jealous over Jerusalem and Zion with a great zeal!

15 “And I am greatly angry against the careless heathen. For I was only angry a little, and they helped increase the affliction.”

16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “I will return to Jerusalem with tender mercy. My House shall be built in it,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and a line shall be stretched upon Jerusalem.”’

17 “Cry, still, and speak, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “My cities shall still be comforted with plenty. The LORD shall still comfort Zion and shall still choose Jerusalem!”’”

18 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw. And behold, four horns.

19 And I said to the Angel that talked with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 And the LORD showed me four carpenters.

21 Then I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he answered, and said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that a man dares not lift up his head. But these have come to terrify them, and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.”

In the eighth month of the second year of Daryavesh, the following message from Adonai came to Z’kharyah the son of Berekhyah, the son of ‘Iddo, the prophet: Adonai was extremely angry with your ancestors. Therefore, tell them that Adonai-Tzva’ot says this: ‘“Return to me,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “and I will return to you,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Don’t be like your ancestors. The earlier prophets proclaimed to them, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot says to turn back now from your evil ways and deeds’; but they didn’t listen or pay attention to me,” says Adonai. “Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my laws, which I ordered my servants the prophets, overtook your ancestors, didn’t they? Then they turned and said, ‘Adonai has dealt with us according to our ways and deeds, just as he intended to do.’”’”

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Sh’vat, in the second year of Daryavesh, this message from Adonai came to Z’kharyah the son of Berekhyah, the son of ‘Iddo, the prophet: It was night, and I saw there before me a man riding on a russet-colored horse. He stood among the myrtle bushes in the valley; and behind him were other horses, russet, chestnut-colored and white. I asked, “What are these, my Lord?” The angel speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” 10 The man standing among the myrtles said, “These are those whom Adonai has sent to wander throughout the earth.” 11 Then they themselves answered the angel of Adonai standing among the myrtles, “We have been wandering throughout the earth, and the whole world is quiet and at peace.” 12 The angel of Adonai said, “Adonai-Tzva’ot, how long will you keep withholding mercy from Yerushalayim and the cities of Y’hudah? You’ve been angry with them for the past seventy years!” 13 Adonai replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me. 14 The angel speaking with me then said to me, “Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: ‘I am extremely jealous on behalf of Yerushalayim and Tziyon; 15 and [to the same degree] I am extremely angry with the nations that are so self-satisfied; because I was only a little angry [at Yerushalayim and Tziyon], but they made the suffering worse.’ 16 Therefore Adonai says, ‘I will return to Yerushalayim with merciful deeds. My house will be rebuilt there,’ says Adonai-Tzva’ot; ‘yes, a measuring line will be stretched out over Yerushalayim.’ 17 In addition, proclaim that Adonai-Tzva’ot says, ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity.’ Adonai will again comfort Tziyon, and he will again make Yerushalayim the city of his choice.”