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Zechariah 7-10
New American Standard Bible
Zechariah 7-10
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.”’”
Prophecies against Neighboring Nations
9 The pronouncement of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, with (BT)Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),
2 And (BU)Hamath also, which borders on it;
(BV)Tyre and (BW)Sidon, [ab]though [ac]they are (BX)very wise.
3 For Tyre built herself a (BY)fortress,
And (BZ)piled up silver like dust,
And (CA)gold like the mud of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord will (CB)dispossess her
And throw her wealth into the sea;
And she will be (CC)consumed with fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.
Gaza too will writhe in great pain;
Also Ekron, because her hope has been ruined.
Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6 And a people of mixed origins will live in (CD)Ashdod,
And I will eliminate the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will remove their blood from their mouth
And their detestable things from between their teeth.
Then they also will be a remnant for our God,
And be like a [ad]clan in Judah,
And Ekron will be like a Jebusite.
8 But I will camp around My house [ae]because of an army,
Because of (CE)him who passes by and returns;
And (CF)no oppressor will pass over them anymore,
For now I have seen with My eyes.
9 (CG)Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your (CH)king is coming to you;
He is [af](CI)righteous and (CJ)endowed with salvation,
(CK)Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a (CL)colt, the [ag]foal of a donkey.
10 And I will (CM)eliminate the chariot from Ephraim
And the (CN)horse from Jerusalem;
And the (CO)bow of war will be eliminated.
And He will speak (CP)peace to the nations;
And His (CQ)dominion will be from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Restoration of Judah and Ephraim
11 As for you also, because of the (CR)blood of My covenant with you,
I have set your (CS)prisoners free from the [ah]waterless pit.
12 Return to the [ai](CT)stronghold, you prisoners [aj]who have the (CU)hope;
This very day I am declaring that I will restore (CV)double to you.
13 For I will (CW)bend Judah [ak]as My bow,
I will fill the bow with Ephraim.
And I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, (CX)Greece;
And I will make you like a (CY)warrior’s sword.
14 Then the Lord will appear (CZ)over them,
And His (DA)arrow will go forth like lightning;
And the Lord [al]God will blow the (DB)trumpet,
And march in the (DC)storm winds of the south.
15 (DD)The Lord of armies will protect them.
And they will (DE)devour and trample on the (DF)slingstones;
And they will drink and be (DG)boisterous as with wine;
And they will be filled like a sacrificial basin,
Drenched like the (DH)corners of the altar.
16 And the Lord their God will (DI)save them on that day
As the flock of His people;
For they are like the precious stones of a (DJ)crown,
Sparkling on His land.
17 For how great will [am]their (DK)loveliness and (DL)beauty be!
Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the virgins.
God Will Bless Judah and Ephraim
10 Ask for (DM)rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—
The Lord who (DN)makes the [an]storm winds;
And He will give them (DO)showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each person.
2 For the [ao](DP)household idols speak deception,
And the (DQ)diviners see [ap]an illusion
And tell (DR)deceitful dreams;
They comfort in vain.
Therefore the people [aq]wander like (DS)sheep,
They are wretched because there is no shepherd.
3 “My (DT)anger is kindled against the shepherds,
And I will punish the [ar]male goats;
For the Lord of armies has (DU)visited His flock, the house of Judah,
And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.
4 From [as]them will come the (DV)cornerstone,
From [at]them the tent peg,
From [au]them the bow of (DW)battle,
From [av]them every tyrant, all of them together.
5 And they will be like warriors,
(DX)Trampling down the enemy in the mud of the streets in battle;
And they will fight, because the Lord will be with them;
And the (DY)riders on horses will be put to shame.
6 And I will (DZ)strengthen the house of Judah,
And I will (EA)save the house of Joseph,
And I will [aw](EB)bring them back,
Because I have had (EC)compassion on them;
And they will be as though I had (ED)not rejected them,
For I am the Lord their God and I will (EE)answer them.
7 Ephraim will be like a warrior,
And their heart will be joyful as if from wine;
Indeed, their (EF)children will see it and be joyful,
[ax]Their heart will rejoice in the Lord.
8 I will (EG)whistle for them and gather them together,
For I have redeemed them;
And they will be as (EH)numerous as they [ay](EI)were before.
9 When I [az]scatter them among the peoples,
They will (EJ)remember Me in distant countries,
And they with their children will live and come back.
10 I will (EK)bring them back from the land of Egypt
And gather them from Assyria;
And I will bring them into the land of (EL)Gilead and Lebanon
[ba]Until (EM)no room can be found for them.
11 And they will pass through the (EN)sea of distress
And He will strike the waves in the sea,
So that all the depths of the (EO)Nile will dry up;
And the pride of (EP)Assyria will be brought down,
And the scepter of (EQ)Egypt will depart.
12 And I will (ER)strengthen them in the Lord,
And in His name (ES)they will walk,” declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 7:2 Lit his
- Zechariah 7:2 Lit soften the face of
- Zechariah 7:3 Lit to fast
- Zechariah 7:5 Lit and this
- Zechariah 7:6 Lit is it not you who eat and you who drink
- Zechariah 7:7 I.e., South country
- Zechariah 7:7 Heb Shephelah
- Zechariah 7:10 Or fatherless
- Zechariah 7:11 Lit gave
- Zechariah 7:11 Lit made their ears heavy
- Zechariah 7:12 Lit from hearing
- Zechariah 7:14 Lit stormed them away upon all
- Zechariah 7:14 Lit from passing and from returning
- Zechariah 8:4 Lit the multitude of days
- Zechariah 8:7 Lit sunrise
- Zechariah 8:7 Lit setting sun
- Zechariah 8:8 Or faithfulness
- Zechariah 8:10 Or security
- Zechariah 8:10 Lit the adversary
- Zechariah 8:11 Lit be to the
- Zechariah 8:16 I.e., the place where court was held
- Zechariah 8:17 Lit a false oath
- Zechariah 8:19 Or goodly
- Zechariah 8:21 Or let me go too
- Zechariah 8:23 Lit languages of the nations
- Zechariah 8:23 Lit grasp, and they will grasp
- Zechariah 8:23 Lit hem of a garment
- Zechariah 9:2 Or because
- Zechariah 9:2 I.e., they think they are
- Zechariah 9:7 Or chief
- Zechariah 9:8 Or as a garrison, so that none will go back and forth
- Zechariah 9:9 Or vindicated and victorious
- Zechariah 9:9 Lit son of a female donkey
- Zechariah 9:11 Lit cistern in which there is no water
- Zechariah 9:12 Or Stronghold
- Zechariah 9:12 Lit of the hope
- Zechariah 9:13 Lit for Me as a bow
- Zechariah 9:14 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Zechariah 9:17 Lit his
- Zechariah 10:1 Or thunderbolts
- Zechariah 10:2 Heb teraphim
- Zechariah 10:2 Lit a lie
- Zechariah 10:2 Lit journey
- Zechariah 10:3 I.e., leaders
- Zechariah 10:4 Lit him
- Zechariah 10:4 Lit him
- Zechariah 10:4 Lit him
- Zechariah 10:4 Lit him
- Zechariah 10:6 Another reading is have them dwell
- Zechariah 10:7 Or Let their heart rejoice
- Zechariah 10:8 Lit were numerous
- Zechariah 10:9 Lit sow
- Zechariah 10:10 Lit And
Zechariah 7-10
New International Version
Zechariah 7-10
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)
Judgment on Israel’s Enemies
9 A prophecy:(CF)
The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak
and will come to rest on Damascus(CG)—
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
are on the Lord—[c]
2 and on Hamath(CH) too, which borders on it,
and on Tyre(CI) and Sidon,(CJ) though they are very skillful.
3 Tyre has built herself a stronghold;
she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.(CK)
4 But the Lord will take away her possessions
and destroy(CL) her power on the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.(CM)
5 Ashkelon(CN) will see it and fear;
Gaza will writhe in agony,
and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.
Gaza will lose her king
and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,
and I will put an end(CO) to the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take the blood from their mouths,
the forbidden food from between their teeth.
Those who are left will belong to our God(CP)
and become a clan in Judah,
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.(CQ)
8 But I will encamp(CR) at my temple
to guard it against marauding forces.(CS)
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
for now I am keeping watch.(CT)
The Coming of Zion’s King
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!(CU)
Shout,(CV) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,(CW)
righteous and victorious,(CX)
lowly and riding on a donkey,(CY)
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.(CZ)
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.(DA)
He will proclaim peace(DB) to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[d] to the ends of the earth.(DC)
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant(DD) with you,
I will free your prisoners(DE) from the waterless pit.(DF)
12 Return to your fortress,(DG) you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice(DH) as much to you.
13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow(DI)
and fill it with Ephraim.(DJ)
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,(DK)
and make you like a warrior’s sword.(DL)
The Lord Will Appear
14 Then the Lord will appear over them;(DM)
his arrow will flash like lightning.(DN)
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;(DO)
he will march in the storms(DP) of the south,
15 and the Lord Almighty will shield(DQ) them.
They will destroy
and overcome with slingstones.(DR)
They will drink and roar as with wine;(DS)
they will be full like a bowl(DT)
used for sprinkling[e] the corners(DU) of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save his people on that day(DV)
as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.(DW)
17 How attractive and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women.
The Lord Will Care for Judah
10 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;
it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain(DX) to all people,
and plants of the field(DY) to everyone.
2 The idols(DZ) speak deceitfully,
diviners(EA) see visions that lie;
they tell dreams(EB) that are false,
they give comfort in vain.(EC)
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.(ED)
3 “My anger burns against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders;(EE)
for the Lord Almighty will care
for his flock, the people of Judah,
and make them like a proud horse in battle.(EF)
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,(EG)
from him the tent peg,(EH)
from him the battle bow,(EI)
from him every ruler.
5 Together they[f] will be like warriors in battle
trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.(EJ)
They will fight because the Lord is with them,
and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.(EK)
6 “I will strengthen(EL) Judah
and save the tribes of Joseph.
I will restore them
because I have compassion(EM) on them.(EN)
They will be as though
I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God
and I will answer(EO) them.
7 The Ephraimites will become like warriors,
and their hearts will be glad as with wine.(EP)
Their children will see it and be joyful;
their hearts will rejoice(EQ) in the Lord.
8 I will signal(ER) for them
and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them;
they will be as numerous(ES) as before.
9 Though I scatter them among the peoples,
yet in distant lands they will remember me.(ET)
They and their children will survive,
and they will return.
10 I will bring them back from Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.(EU)
I will bring them to Gilead(EV) and Lebanon,
and there will not be room(EW) enough for them.
11 They will pass through the sea of trouble;
the surging sea will be subdued
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.(EX)
Assyria’s pride(EY) will be brought down
and Egypt’s scepter(EZ) will pass away.(FA)
12 I will strengthen(FB) them in the Lord
and in his name they will live securely,(FC)”
declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- 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.
- Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed
- Zechariah 9:1 Or Damascus. / For the eye of the Lord is on all people, / as well as on the tribes of Israel,
- Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
- Zechariah 9:15 Or bowl, / like
- Zechariah 10:5 Or ruler, all of them together. / 5 They
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