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Zechariah 5-8
Contemporary English Version
Zechariah 5-8
Contemporary English Version
Sixth Vision: A Flying Scroll
5 When I looked the next time, I saw a flying scroll,[a] 2 and the angel asked, “What do you see?”
“A flying scroll,” I answered. “About nine meters long and four and a half meters wide.”
3 Then he told me:
This scroll puts a curse on everyone in the land who steals or tells lies. The writing on one side tells about the destruction of those who steal, while the writing on the other side tells about the destruction of those who lie.
4 The Lord All-Powerful has said, “I am sending this scroll into the house of everyone who is a robber or tells lies in my name, and it will remain there until every piece of wood and stone in that house crumbles.”
Seventh Vision: A Woman in a Basket
5 Now the angel who was there to explain the visions came over and said, “Look up and tell me what you see coming.”
6 “I don't know what it is,” was my reply.
“It's a big basket,” he said. “And it shows what everyone in the land has in mind.”[b]
7 The lead cover of the basket was opened, and in the basket was a woman. 8 “This woman represents evil,” the angel explained. Then he threw her back into the basket and slammed the heavy cover down tight.
9 Right after this I saw two women coming through the sky with wings outstretched like a stork in the wind. Suddenly they lifted the basket into the air, 10 and I asked the angel, “Where are they taking the basket?”
11 “To Babylonia,”[c] he answered, “where they will build a house for the basket and set it down inside.”
Eighth Vision: Four Chariots
6 Finally, I looked up and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. 2 (A) The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second by black horses; 3 (B) the third chariot was pulled by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray[d] horses.
4 “Sir,” I asked the angel. “What do these stand for?”
5 (C) Then he explained, “These are the four winds[e] of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west,[f] and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south.”
7 The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, “Start patrolling the earth.”
When they had gone on their way, 8 he shouted to me, “Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the Lord's Spirit[g] wants them to do there.”[h]
The Chosen Leader
9 The Lord said to me:
10-11 Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown.[i] Then go with them to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah and put the crown on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.[j] 12-13 (D) Tell him that I, the Lord All-Powerful, say, “Someone will reach out from here like a branch and build a temple for me. I will name him ‘Branch,’ and he will rule with royal honors. A priest will stand beside his throne,[k] and the two of them will be good friends. 14 This crown will be kept in my temple as a reminder and will be taken care of by Heldai,[l] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah.”[m]
15 When people from distant lands come and help build the temple of the Lord All-Powerful, you will know that the Lord is the one who sent me. And this will happen, if you truly obey the Lord your God.
A Question about Going without Eating
7 On the fourth day of Chislev, the ninth month of the fourth year that Darius was king of Persia,[n] the Lord again spoke to me. 2-3 It happened after the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer with Regem-Melech and his men to ask the priests in the Lord's temple and the prophets to pray for them. So they prayed, “Should we mourn and go without eating during the fifth month,[o] as we have done for many years?”
4-5 It was then that the Lord All-Powerful told me to say to everyone in the country, including the priests:
For 70 years you have gone without eating during the fifth and seventh months of the year. But did you really do it for me? 6 And when you eat and drink, isn't it for your own enjoyment? 7 My message today is the same one I commanded the earlier prophets[p] to speak to Jerusalem and its villages when they were prosperous, and when all of Judah, including the Southern Desert and the hill country, was filled with people.
8-9 So once again, I, the Lord All-Powerful, tell you, “See that justice is done and be kind and merciful to one another! 10 Don't mistreat widows or orphans or foreigners or anyone who is poor, and stop making plans to hurt each other.”
11-12 But everyone who heard those prophets, stubbornly refused to obey. Instead, they turned their backs on everything my Spirit[q] had commanded the earlier prophets to preach. So I, the Lord, became angry 13 and said, “You people paid no attention when I called out to you, and now I'll pay no attention when you call out to me.”
14 That's why I came with a whirlwind and scattered them among foreign nations, leaving their lovely country empty of people and in ruins.[r]
The Lord's Promises to Zion
8 The Lord All-Powerful said to me:
2 I love Zion so much that her enemies make me angry. 3 I will return to Jerusalem and live there on Mount Zion. Then Jerusalem will be known as my faithful city, and Zion will be known as my holy mountain.
4 Very old people with walking sticks will once again sit around in Jerusalem, 5 while boys and girls play in the streets. 6 This may seem impossible for my people who are left, but it isn't impossible for me, the Lord All-Powerful. 7 I will save those who were taken to lands in the east and the west, 8 and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, faithful to bring about justice.
9 I am the Lord All-Powerful! So don't give up. Think about the message my prophets spoke when the foundation of my temple was laid. 10 Before that time, neither people nor animals were rewarded for their work, and no one was safe anywhere, because I had turned them against each other.
11 My people, only a few of you are left, and I promise not to punish you as I did before. 12 Instead, I will make sure that your crops are planted in peace and your vineyards are fruitful, that your fields are fertile, and the dew falls from the sky. 13 People of Judah and Israel, you have been a curse to the nations, but I will save you and make you a blessing to them. So don't be afraid or lose courage.
14 When your ancestors made me angry, I decided to punish you with disasters, and I didn't hold back. 15 Now you no longer need to be afraid. I have decided to treat Jerusalem and Judah with kindness. 16 (E) But you must be truthful with each other, and in court you must give fair decisions that lead to peace. 17 Don't ever plan evil things against others or tell lies under oath. I, the Lord, hate such things.
A Time of Celebration
18 The Lord All-Powerful told me to say:
19 People of Judah, I, the Lord, demand that whenever you go without food as a way of worshiping me, it should become a time of celebration. No matter if it's the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, or the tenth month, you should have a joyful festival. So love truth and live at peace.
20 I tell you that people will come here from cities everywhere. 21 Those of one town will go to another and say, “We're going to ask the Lord All-Powerful to treat us with kindness. Come and join us.”
22 Many people from strong nations will come to Jerusalem to worship me and to ask me to treat them with kindness. 23 When this happens, ten people from nations with different languages will grab a Jew by his clothes and say, “Let us go with you. We've heard that God is on your side.” I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!
Footnotes
- 5.1 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on.
- 5.6 what … mind: Hebrew; one ancient translation “the sin of everyone in the land.”
- 5.11 Babylonia: The Hebrew text has “Shinar,” an ancient name for Babylonia.
- 6.3 spotted gray: Or “strong.”
- 6.5 winds: Or “spirits.” The Hebrew word may mean either.
- 6.6 goes toward the west: Or “follows behind.”
- 6.8 Lord's Spirit: Or “Lord.”
- 6.8 will do … to do there: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 6.10,11 a crown: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “some crowns.”
- 6.10,11 Heldai … Jehozadak: Or “Go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, where you will find Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. Then put it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.”
- 6.12,13 stand beside his throne: Or “sit on a throne.”
- 6.14 Heldai: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Helem.”
- 6.14 Josiah: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Hen.”
- 7.1 Chislev … fourth year … king of Persia: Chislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-November to mid-December; the fourth year of the rule of Darius was 518 b.c.
- 7.2,3 fifth month: Ab, the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-July to mid-August. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587 or 586 b.c.
- 7.7 the earlier prophets: See the note at 1.4.
- 7.11,12 my Spirit: Or “I.”
- 7.14 leaving their … in ruins: Or “because they had ruined their lovely country.”
Zechariah 5-8
New International Version
Zechariah 5-8
New International Version
The Flying Scroll
5 I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.(A)
2 He asked me, “What do you see?”(B)
I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.[a]”
3 And he said to me, “This is the curse(C) that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief(D) will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely(E) will be banished. 4 The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely(F) by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.(G)’”
The Woman in a Basket
5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”
6 I asked, “What is it?”
He replied, “It is a basket.(H)” And he added, “This is the iniquity[b] of the people throughout the land.”
7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.(I)
9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork,(J) and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.
10 “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.
11 He replied, “To the country of Babylonia[c](K) to build a house(L) for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”(M)
Four Chariots
6 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots(N) coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,(O) 3 the third white,(P) and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits[d](Q) of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.(R) 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west,[e] and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth.(S) And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit[f] rest(T) in the land of the north.”(U)
A Crown for Joshua
9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.(V) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown,(W) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua(X) son of Jozadak.[g](Y) 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,(Z) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.(AA) 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he[h] will be a priest(AB) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crown will be given to Heldai,[i] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen[j] son of Zephaniah as a memorial(AC) in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,(AD) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(AE) This will happen if you diligently obey(AF) the Lord your God.”
Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting
7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah(AG) on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.(AH) 2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat(AI) the Lord(AJ) 3 by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn(AK) and fast in the fifth(AL) 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(AM) and mourned in the fifth and seventh(AN) months for the past seventy years,(AO) was it really for me that you fasted? 6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?(AP) 7 Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets(AQ) when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest(AR) and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills(AS) were settled?’”(AT)
8 And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;(AU) show mercy and compassion to one another.(AV) 10 Do not oppress the widow(AW) or the fatherless, the foreigner(AX) or the poor.(AY) Do not plot evil against each other.’(AZ)
11 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly(BA) they turned their backs(BB) and covered their ears.(BC) 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint(BD) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.(BE) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.(BF)
13 “‘When I called, they did not listen;(BG) so when they called, I would not listen,’(BH) says the Lord Almighty.(BI) 14 ‘I scattered(BJ) them with a whirlwind(BK) among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it.(BL) This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.(BM)’”
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(BN) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”
3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return(BO) to Zion(BP) and dwell in Jerusalem.(BQ) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(BR) and the mountain(BS) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(BT)”
4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,(BU) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.(BV)”
6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,(BW) but will it seem marvelous to me?(BX)” 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.(BY) 8 I will bring them back(BZ) to live(CA) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(CB) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(CC)”
9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(CD) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(CE) said who were present when the foundation(CF) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(CG) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(CH) 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,”(CI) declares the Lord Almighty.
12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(CJ) the ground will produce its crops,(CK) and the heavens will drop their dew.(CL) I will give all these things as an inheritance(CM) to the remnant of this people.(CN) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[k](CO) among the nations, so I will save(CP) you, and you will be a blessing.[l](CQ) Do not be afraid,(CR) but let your hands be strong.(CS)”
14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(CT) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(CU) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(CV) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(CW) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(CX) in your courts;(CY) 17 do not plot evil(CZ) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(DA) 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,(DB) fifth,(DC) seventh(DD) and tenth(DE) months will become joyful(DF) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(DG) 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(DH) the Lord and seek(DI) 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.”(DJ)
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.’”(DK)
Footnotes
- Zechariah 5:2 That is, about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide or about 9 meters long and 4.5 meters wide
- Zechariah 5:6 Or appearance
- Zechariah 5:11 Hebrew Shinar
- Zechariah 6:5 Or winds
- Zechariah 6:6 Or horses after them
- Zechariah 6:8 Or spirit
- Zechariah 6:11 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak
- Zechariah 6:13 Or there
- Zechariah 6:14 Syriac; Hebrew Helem
- Zechariah 6:14 Or and the gracious one, the
- 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
Revelation 19
Contemporary English Version
Revelation 19
Contemporary English Version
19 After this, I heard what sounded like a lot of voices in heaven, and they were shouting,
“Praise the Lord!
To our God belongs
the glorious power to save,
2 (A) because his judgments
are honest and fair.
That filthy prostitute
ruined the earth
with shameful deeds.
But God has judged her
and made her pay
the price for murdering
his servants.”
3 (B) Then the crowd shouted,
“Praise the Lord!
Smoke will never stop rising
from her burning body.”
4 After this, the 24 elders and the four living creatures all knelt before the throne of God and worshiped him. They said, “Amen! Praise the Lord!”
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
5 (C) From the throne a voice said,
“If you worship
and fear our God,
give praise to him,
no matter who you are.”
6 (D) Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying,
“Praise the Lord!
Our Lord God All-Powerful
now rules as king.
7 So we will be glad and happy
and give him praise.
The wedding day of the Lamb
is here,
and his bride is ready.
8 She will be given
a wedding dress
made of pure
and shining linen.
This linen stands for
the good things
God's people have done.”
9 (E) Then the angel told me, “Put this in writing. God will bless everyone who is invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” The angel also said, “These things God has said are true.”
10 I knelt at the feet of the angel and began to worship him. But the angel said, “Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you and everyone else who tells about Jesus. Don't worship anyone but God. Everyone who tells about Jesus does it by the power of the Spirit.”
The Rider on the White Horse
11 (F) I looked and saw heaven was open, and a white horse was there. Its rider was called Faithful and True, and he is always fair when he judges or goes to war. 12 (G) He had eyes like flames of fire, and he was wearing a lot of crowns. His name was written on him, but he was the only one who knew what the name meant.
13 (H) The rider wore a robe that was covered with[a] blood, and he was known as “The Word of God.” 14 He was followed by armies from heaven that rode on white horses and were dressed in pure white linen. 15 (I) From his mouth a sharp sword went out to attack the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod and will show the fierce anger of God All-Powerful by trampling the grapes in the pit where wine is made. 16 On the part of the robe that covered his thigh was written, “KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF LordS.”
17 (J) I then saw an angel standing on the sun, and he shouted to all the birds flying in the sky, “Come and join in God's great feast! 18 You can eat the flesh of kings, rulers, leaders, horses, riders, free people, slaves, important people, and everyone else.”
19 I also saw the beast and all kings of the earth come together. They fought against the rider on the white horse and against his army. 20 (K) But the beast was captured and so was the false prophet. This is the same prophet who had worked miracles for the beast, so he could fool everyone who had the mark of the beast and worshiped the idol. The beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into a lake of burning sulfur. 21 But the rest of their army was killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse. Then birds stuffed themselves on the dead bodies.
Footnotes
- 19.13 covered with: Some manuscripts have “sprinkled with.”
Revelation 19
New International Version
Revelation 19
New International Version
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall
19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude(A) in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation(C) and glory and power(D) belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.(E)
He has condemned the great prostitute(F)
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(G)
3 And again they shouted:
4 The twenty-four elders(J) and the four living creatures(K) fell down(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:
“Amen, Hallelujah!”(M)
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,(P) like the roar of rushing waters(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!(R)
For our Lord God Almighty(S) reigns.(T)
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!(U)
For the wedding of the Lamb(V) has come,
and his bride(W) has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen,(X) bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts(Y) of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me,(Z) “Write this:(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”(AC)
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”(AF)
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider(AH) is called Faithful and True.(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.(AJ) 12 His eyes are like blazing fire,(AK) and on his head are many crowns.(AL) He has a name written on him(AM) that no one knows but he himself.(AN) 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,(AO) and his name is the Word of God.(AP) 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,(AQ) white(AR) and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword(AS) with which to strike down(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a](AU) He treads the winepress(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:(AW)
king of kings and lord of lords.(AX)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds(AY) flying in midair,(AZ) “Come,(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,(BB) 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,(BC) free and slave,(BD) great and small.”(BE)
19 Then I saw the beast(BF) and the kings of the earth(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(BH) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(BI) who had performed the signs(BJ) on its behalf.(BK) With these signs he had deluded(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast(BM) and worshiped its image.(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(BO) of burning sulfur.(BP) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(BR) and all the birds(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:15 Psalm 2:9
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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