Add parallel Print Page Options

The Lord will Deliver Jerusalem

12 A declaration: a message from the Lord to Israel. “The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who frames the spirit of man within himself, declares, ‘Look, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup[a] toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. It will come about at that time[b] that I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight; so everyone who burdens themselves with it will be crushed,[c] even though all of the nations of the earth gather themselves against it. At that time,’[d] declares the Lord, ‘I will strike every horse with panic and every rider with insanity. I will keep my eyes on the house of Judah, but I will blind every horse of the invading[e] armies. The leaders of Judah will say to themselves, “Those who live in Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, their God.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 12:2 I.e. one that cannot be set down without spilling its contents
  2. Zechariah 12:3 Lit. day
  3. Zechariah 12:3 Lit. sliced
  4. Zechariah 12:4 Lit. day
  5. Zechariah 12:4 The Heb. lacks invading

Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed

12 A prophecy:(A) The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

The Lord, who stretches out the heavens,(B) who lays the foundation of the earth,(C) and who forms the human spirit within a person,(D) declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup(E) that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling.(F) Judah(G) will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations(H) of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock(I) for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure(J) themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.(K) Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong,(L) because the Lord Almighty is their God.’

Read full chapter