Judah’s Security

12 An Oracle

The word of the Lord concerning Israel.
A declaration of the Lord,
who stretched out the heavens,(A)
laid the foundation of the earth,(B)
and formed the spirit of man within him.

“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering(C) for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.(D) On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness.(E) I will keep a watchful eye on(F) the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: The residents of Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of Hosts, their God.

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Jerusalem on that day

12 A pronouncement. The Lord’s word against Israel,
    an utterance of the Lord
        who stretches out the heavens,
        who establishes the earth,
        and who fashions the spirit of humanity within it:
I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that will stagger all the surrounding nations.
        There will be a siege against Judah and against Jerusalem.

On that day I will make Jerusalem into a heavy stone[a] for all the peoples.
        All who carry it will hurt themselves;
        nevertheless, the nations of the earth will conspire against it.

On that day, says the Lord, I will strike every horse with confusion
        and its rider with madness.
I will keep my eyes open for the house of Judah;
        I will strike blind every horse of the peoples.
The chieftains of Judah will say to themselves, We are strong;
        the inhabitants of Jerusalem will say,
            The Lord their God of heavenly forces is strong.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 12:3 Heb uncertain
  2. Zechariah 12:5 Heb uncertain