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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 1:18 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew

Turn from Your Evil Ways

In the eighth month of Darius’ second year as king, the Lord spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. He said, “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. Tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: Return to me, declares the Lord of Armies, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies.’ Don’t be like your ancestors, who heard the earlier prophets preach to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.’ But they didn’t listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. Your ancestors—where are they now? And the prophets—are they still alive? Didn’t my warnings and my laws, which I’ve commanded my servants the prophets ⌞to preach⌟, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, ‘The Lord of Armies has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.’ ”

The Lord Will Comfort Zion

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat) in Darius’ second year as king, the Lord spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo.

During that night I saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, chestnut, and white horses.

“What do these horses mean, sir?” I asked.

The angel who was speaking with me answered, “I will show you what they mean.”

10 The man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They’re the horses the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.” 11 Then they reported to the Messenger of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth. The whole world is at rest and in peace.”

12 Then the Messenger of the Lord said, “Lord of Armies, how much longer until you show compassion to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You’ve been angry with them for 70 years.” 13 The Lord responded to the angel who was speaking with me, using kind and comforting words.

14 The angel who was speaking with me said, “Announce: This is what the Lord of Armies says: I’m very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I’m very angry with the nations who think they are at ease. I was only a little angry, but they made things worse. 16 This is what the Lord of Armies says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares the Lord of Armies. A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.

17 “Announce again: This is what the Lord of Armies says: My cities will overflow with prosperity once more. The Lord will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.” [a]

Punishment for the Nations That Scattered Judah

18 I looked up and saw four animal horns. 19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What do these horns mean?”

He said to me, “These are the horns ⌞of the nations⌟ that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are they going to do?”

He answered, “Those horns scattered Judah so widely that no one could lift up his head. But the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations. The nations raised their horns to scatter the land of Judah.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:17 Zechariah 1:18–21 in English Bibles is Zechariah 2:1–4 in the Hebrew Bible.

Llamamiento a volver a Jehová

En el octavo mes del año segundo de Darío, vino palabra de Jehová al profeta Zacarías(A) hijo de Berequías, hijo de Iddo, diciendo: Se enojó Jehová en gran manera contra vuestros padres. Diles, pues: Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Volveos a mí, dice Jehová de los ejércitos, y yo me volveré a vosotros, ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos. No seáis como vuestros padres, a los cuales clamaron los primeros profetas, diciendo: Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Volveos ahora de vuestros malos caminos y de vuestras malas obras; y no atendieron, ni me escucharon, dice Jehová. Vuestros padres, ¿dónde están?; y los profetas, ¿han de vivir para siempre? Pero mis palabras y mis ordenanzas que mandé a mis siervos los profetas, ¿no alcanzaron a vuestros padres? Por eso volvieron ellos y dijeron: Como Jehová de los ejércitos pensó tratarnos conforme a nuestros caminos, y conforme a nuestras obras, así lo hizo con nosotros.

La visión de los caballos

A los veinticuatro días del mes undécimo, que es el mes de Sebat, en el año segundo de Darío, vino palabra de Jehová al profeta Zacarías hijo de Berequías, hijo de Iddo, diciendo: Vi de noche, y he aquí un varón que cabalgaba sobre un caballo alazán,(B) el cual estaba entre los mirtos que había en la hondura; y detrás de él había caballos alazanes, overos y blancos.(C) Entonces dije: ¿Qué son estos, señor mío? Y me dijo el ángel que hablaba conmigo: Yo te enseñaré lo que son estos. 10 Y aquel varón que estaba entre los mirtos respondió y dijo: Estos son los que Jehová ha enviado a recorrer la tierra. 11 Y ellos hablaron a aquel ángel de Jehová que estaba entre los mirtos, y dijeron: Hemos recorrido la tierra, y he aquí toda la tierra está reposada y quieta. 12 Respondió el ángel de Jehová y dijo: Oh Jehová de los ejércitos, ¿hasta cuándo no tendrás piedad de Jerusalén, y de las ciudades de Judá, con las cuales has estado airado por espacio de setenta años? 13 Y Jehová respondió buenas palabras, palabras consoladoras, al ángel que hablaba conmigo. 14 Y me dijo el ángel que hablaba conmigo: Clama diciendo: Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Celé con gran celo a Jerusalén y a Sion. 15 Y estoy muy airado contra las naciones que están reposadas; porque cuando yo estaba enojado un poco, ellos agravaron el mal. 16 Por tanto, así ha dicho Jehová: Yo me he vuelto a Jerusalén con misericordia; en ella será edificada mi casa, dice Jehová de los ejércitos, y la plomada será tendida sobre Jerusalén. 17 Clama aún, diciendo: Así dice Jehová de los ejércitos: Aún rebosarán mis ciudades con la abundancia del bien, y aún consolará Jehová a Sion, y escogerá todavía a Jerusalén.

Visión de los cuernos y los carpinteros

18 Después alcé mis ojos y miré, y he aquí cuatro cuernos. 19 Y dije al ángel que hablaba conmigo: ¿Qué son estos? Y me respondió: Estos son los cuernos que dispersaron a Judá, a Israel y a Jerusalén. 20 Me mostró luego Jehová cuatro carpinteros. 21 Y yo dije: ¿Qué vienen estos a hacer? Y me respondió, diciendo: Aquellos son los cuernos que dispersaron a Judá, tanto que ninguno alzó su cabeza; mas estos han venido para hacerlos temblar, para derribar los cuernos de las naciones que alzaron el cuerno sobre la tierra de Judá para dispersarla.

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В восьмом месяце, во второй год Дария, было слово Господне к Захарии, сыну Варахиину, сыну Аддову, пророку:

прогневался Господь на отцов ваших великим гневом,

и ты скажи им: так говорит Господь Саваоф: обратитесь ко Мне, говорит Господь Саваоф, и Я обращусь к вам, говорит Господь Саваоф.

Не будьте такими, как отцы ваши, к которым взывали прежде бывшие пророки, говоря: 'так говорит Господь Саваоф: обратитесь от злых путей ваших и от злых дел ваших'; но они не слушались и не внимали Мне, говорит Господь.

Отцы ваши--где они? да и пророки, будут ли они вечно жить?

Но слова Мои и определения Мои, которые заповедал Я рабам Моим, пророкам, разве не постигли отцов ваших? и они обращались и говорили: 'как определил Господь Саваоф поступить с нами по нашим путям и по нашим делам, так и поступил с нами'.

В двадцать четвертый день одиннадцатого месяца, --это месяц Шеват, --во второй год Дария, было слово Господне к Захарии, сыну Варахиину, сыну Аддову, пророку:

видел я ночью: вот, муж на рыжем коне стоит между миртами, которые в углублении, а позади него кони рыжие, пегие и белые, --

и сказал я: кто они, господин мой? И сказал мне Ангел, говоривший со мною: я покажу тебе, кто они.

10 И отвечал муж, который стоял между миртами, и сказал: это те, которых Господь послал обойти землю.

11 И они отвечали Ангелу Господню, стоявшему между миртами, и сказали: обошли мы землю, и вот, вся земля населена и спокойна.

12 И отвечал Ангел Господень и сказал: Господи Вседержителю! Доколе Ты не умилосердишься над Иерусалимом и над городами Иуды, на которые Ты гневаешься вот уже семьдесят лет?

13 Тогда в ответ Ангелу, говорившему со мною, изрек Господь слова благие, слова утешительные.

14 И сказал мне Ангел, говоривший со мною: провозгласи и скажи: так говорит Господь Саваоф: возревновал Я о Иерусалиме и о Сионе ревностью великою;

15 и великим негодованием негодую на народы, живущие в покое; ибо, когда Я мало прогневался, они усилили зло.

16 Посему так говорит Господь: Я обращаюсь к Иерусалиму с милосердием; в нем соорудится дом Мой, говорит Господь Саваоф, и землемерная вервь протянется по Иерусалиму.

17 Еще провозгласи и скажи: так говорит Господь Саваоф: снова переполнятся города Мои добром, и утешит Господь Сион, и снова изберет Иерусалим.

18 И поднял я глаза мои и увидел: вот четыре рога.

19 И сказал я Ангелу, говорившему со мною: что это? И он ответил мне: это роги, которые разбросали Иуду, Израиля и Иерусалим.

20 Потом показал мне Господь четырех рабочих.

21 И сказал я: что они идут делать? Он сказал мне так: эти роги разбросали Иуду, так что никто не может поднять головы своей; а сии пришли устрашить их, сбить роги народов, поднявших рог свой против земли Иуды, чтобы рассеять ее.

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Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

14 As for (A)the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (B)One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and (C)let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (D)Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

(E)One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. (F)Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since (G)he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For (H)none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, (I)whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ (J)died and lived again, that he might be Lord both (K)of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For (L)we will all stand before (M)the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

(N)“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess[b] to God.”

12 So then (O)each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 (P)Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide (Q)never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus (R)that nothing is unclean in itself, (S)but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, (T)you are no longer walking in love. (U)By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 (V)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 (W)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but (X)of righteousness and (Y)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is (Z)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us (AA)pursue what makes for peace and for (AB)mutual upbuilding.

20 (AC)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. (AD)Everything is indeed clean, but (AE)it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 (AF)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[c] 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. (AG)Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:4 Or lord
  2. Romans 14:11 Or shall give praise
  3. Romans 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened
  4. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts insert here 16:25–27

How to Treat Christians Who Are Weak in Faith

14 Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion. Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people. Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful. The servant will be successful because the Lord makes him successful.

One person decides that one day is holier than another. Another person decides that all days are the same. Every person must make his own decision. When people observe a special day, they observe it to honor the Lord. When people eat all kinds of foods, they honor the Lord as they eat, since they give thanks to God. Vegetarians also honor the Lord when they eat, and they, too, give thanks to God. It’s clear that we don’t live to honor ourselves, and we don’t die to honor ourselves. If we live, we honor the Lord, and if we die, we honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this reason Christ died and came back to life so that he would be the Lord of both the living and the dead.

10 Why do you criticize or despise other Christians? Everyone will stand in front of God to be judged. 11 Scripture says,

“As certainly as I live, says the Lord,
everyone will worship me,
and everyone will praise God.”

12 All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God.

13 So let’s stop criticizing each other. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith.

14 The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is. 15 So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don’t destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person. 16 Don’t allow anyone to say that what you consider good is evil.

17 God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. 18 The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people.

19 So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other. 20 Don’t ruin God’s work because of what you eat. All food is acceptable, but it’s wrong for a person to eat something if it causes someone else to have doubts. 21 The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that causes another Christian to have doubts. 22 So whatever you believe about these things, keep it between yourself and God. The person who does what he knows is right shouldn’t feel guilty. He is blessed. 23 But if a person has doubts and still eats, he is condemned because he didn’t act in faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.

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Los débiles en la fe

14 Recibid al débil en la fe, pero no para contender sobre opiniones. Porque uno cree que se ha de comer de todo; otro, que es débil, come legumbres. El que come, no menosprecie al que no come, y el que no come, no juzgue al que come; porque Dios le ha recibido. ¿Tú quién eres, que juzgas al criado ajeno? Para su propio señor está en pie, o cae; pero estará firme, porque poderoso es el Señor para hacerle estar firme.

Uno hace diferencia entre día y día; otro juzga iguales todos los días. Cada uno esté plenamente convencido en su propia mente. El que hace caso del día, lo hace para el Señor; y el que no hace caso del día, para el Señor no lo hace. El que come, para el Señor come, porque da gracias a Dios; y el que no come, para el Señor no come, y da gracias a Dios.(A) Porque ninguno de nosotros vive para sí, y ninguno muere para sí. Pues si vivimos, para el Señor vivimos; y si morimos, para el Señor morimos. Así pues, sea que vivamos, o que muramos, del Señor somos. Porque Cristo para esto murió y resucitó, y volvió a vivir, para ser Señor así de los muertos como de los que viven.

10 Pero tú, ¿por qué juzgas a tu hermano? O tú también, ¿por qué menosprecias a tu hermano? Porque todos compareceremos ante el tribunal de Cristo.(B) 11 Porque escrito está:

Vivo yo, dice el Señor, que ante mí se doblará toda rodilla,

Y toda lengua confesará a Dios.(C)

12 De manera que cada uno de nosotros dará a Dios cuenta de sí.

13 Así que, ya no nos juzguemos más los unos a los otros, sino más bien decidid no poner tropiezo u ocasión de caer al hermano. 14 Yo sé, y confío en el Señor Jesús, que nada es inmundo en sí mismo; mas para el que piensa que algo es inmundo, para él lo es. 15 Pero si por causa de la comida tu hermano es contristado, ya no andas conforme al amor. No hagas que por la comida tuya se pierda aquel por quien Cristo murió. 16 No sea, pues, vituperado vuestro bien; 17 porque el reino de Dios no es comida ni bebida, sino justicia, paz y gozo en el Espíritu Santo. 18 Porque el que en esto sirve a Cristo, agrada a Dios, y es aprobado por los hombres. 19 Así que, sigamos lo que contribuye a la paz y a la mutua edificación. 20 No destruyas la obra de Dios por causa de la comida. Todas las cosas a la verdad son limpias; pero es malo que el hombre haga tropezar a otros con lo que come. 21 Bueno es no comer carne, ni beber vino, ni nada en que tu hermano tropiece, o se ofenda, o se debilite. 22 ¿Tienes tú fe? Tenla para contigo delante de Dios. Bienaventurado el que no se condena a sí mismo en lo que aprueba. 23 Pero el que duda sobre lo que come, es condenado, porque no lo hace con fe; y todo lo que no proviene de fe, es pecado.

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14 Немощного в вере принимайте без споров о мнениях.

Ибо иной уверен, [что можно] есть все, а немощный ест овощи.

Кто ест, не уничижай того, кто не ест; и кто не ест, не осуждай того, кто ест, потому что Бог принял его.

Кто ты, осуждающий чужого раба? Перед своим Господом стоит он, или падает. И будет восставлен, ибо силен Бог восставить его.

Иной отличает день от дня, а другой судит о всяком дне [равно]. Всякий [поступай] по удостоверению своего ума.

Кто различает дни, для Господа различает; и кто не различает дней, для Господа не различает. Кто ест, для Господа ест, ибо благодарит Бога; и кто не ест, для Господа не ест, и благодарит Бога.

Ибо никто из нас не живет для себя, и никто не умирает для себя;

а живем ли--для Господа живем; умираем ли--для Господа умираем: и потому, живем ли или умираем, --[всегда] Господни.

Ибо Христос для того и умер, и воскрес, и ожил, чтобы владычествовать и над мертвыми и над живыми.

10 А ты что осуждаешь брата твоего? Или и ты, что унижаешь брата твоего? Все мы предстанем на суд Христов.

11 Ибо написано: живу Я, говорит Господь, предо Мною преклонится всякое колено, и всякий язык будет исповедывать Бога.

12 Итак каждый из нас за себя даст отчет Богу.

13 Не станем же более судить друг друга, а лучше судите о том, как бы не подавать брату [случая к] преткновению или соблазну.

14 Я знаю и уверен в Господе Иисусе, что нет ничего в себе самом нечистого; только почитающему что-либо нечистым, тому нечисто.

15 Если же за пищу огорчается брат твой, то ты уже не по любви поступаешь. Не губи твоею пищею того, за кого Христос умер.

16 Да не хулится ваше доброе.

17 Ибо Царствие Божие не пища и питие, но праведность и мир и радость во Святом Духе.

18 Кто сим служит Христу, тот угоден Богу и [достоин] одобрения от людей.

19 Итак будем искать того, что служит к миру и ко взаимному назиданию.

20 Ради пищи не разрушай дела Божия. Все чисто, но худо человеку, который ест на соблазн.

21 Лучше не есть мяса, не пить вина и не [делать] ничего [такого], отчего брат твой претыкается, или соблазняется, или изнемогает.

22 Ты имеешь веру? имей ее сам в себе, пред Богом. Блажен, кто не осуждает себя в том, что избирает.

23 А сомневающийся, если ест, осуждается, потому что не по вере; а все, что не по вере, грех.

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