I saw by night, and behold, (A)a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were (B)horses: red, sorrel, and white. Then I said, (C)“My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, (D)“These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”

11 (E)So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is [a]resting quietly.”

The Lord Will Comfort Zion

12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord of hosts, (F)how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry (G)these seventy years?”

13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with (H)good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, [b]“Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“I am (I)zealous[c] for Jerusalem
And for Zion with great [d]zeal.
15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease;
For (J)I was a little angry,
And they helped—but with evil intent.

16 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord:

(K)“I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;
My (L)house (M)shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,
“And (N)a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’

17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“My cities shall again [e]spread out through prosperity;
(O)The Lord will again comfort Zion,
And (P)will again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 1:11 Lit. sitting and quiet
  2. Zechariah 1:14 Lit. Cry out
  3. Zechariah 1:14 Or jealous
  4. Zechariah 1:14 Or jealousy
  5. Zechariah 1:17 Or overflow with good

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