Historical
Return to Me, Declares Yahweh
1 In the eighth month of the second year of (A)Darius, the word of [a]Yahweh came to (B)Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of (C)Iddo, saying, 2 “Yahweh was very (D)wrathful against your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “(E)Return to Me,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. 4 “Do not be (F)like your fathers, to whom the (G)former prophets called out, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “(H)Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did (I)not listen or give heed to Me,” declares Yahweh. 5 “Your (J)fathers, where are they? And the (K)prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My slaves the prophets, (L)overtake your fathers? Then they [b]returned and said, ‘(M)As Yahweh of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has done with us.’”’”
A Man on a Red Horse
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying, 8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a (N)red horse, and he was standing among the (O)myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel, and (P)white horses behind him. 9 Then I said, “My (Q)lord, what are these?” And the (R)angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom Yahweh has sent to [c](S)patrol the earth.” 11 So they answered the angel of Yahweh who was (T)standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have [d]patrolled the earth, and behold, (U)all the earth is sitting still and quiet.”
12 Then the angel of Yahweh answered and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, (V)how long will You (W)have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been (X)indignant these (Y)seventy years?” 13 Yahweh answered the (Z)angel who was speaking with me with good words, (AA)comforting words. 14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “(AB)Call out, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I am (AC)exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 But I am very (AD)wrathful with the nations who are (AE)at ease; for I was only a little wrathful, but they (AF)helped increase the calamity.” 16 Therefore thus says Yahweh, “I will (AG)return to Jerusalem with compassion; My (AH)house will be built in it,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “and a measuring (AI)line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’ 17 Again, call out, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “My (AJ)cities will again overflow with good, and Yahweh will again (AK)comfort Zion and again (AL)choose Jerusalem.”’”
Four Horns and Craftsmen
18 [e]Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there were four horns. 19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the (AM)horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20 Then Yahweh showed me four (AN)craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the (AO)horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to cause them to tremble, to (AP)throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”
A Man with a Measuring Cord
2 [f]Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there was a man with a (AQ)measuring cord in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To (AR)measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the (AS)angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, speak to that (AT)young man, saying, ‘(AU)Jerusalem will be inhabited [g](AV)without walls because of the (AW)multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 Indeed I,’ declares Yahweh, ‘will be a (AX)wall of fire [h]around her, and I will be the (AY)glory in her midst.’”
6 “[i]Ho there! (AZ)Flee from the land of the north,” declares Yahweh, “for I have (BA)dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares Yahweh. 7 “Woe, Zion! (BB)Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 8 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, “After [j](BC)glory He has sent Me against the nations which have taken you as spoil, for he who touches you, touches the [k](BD)apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will (BE)wave My hand over them so that they will be (BF)spoil for their slaves. Then you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent Me. 10 (BG)Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming and I will (BH)dwell in your midst,” declares Yahweh. 11 “(BI)And many nations will join themselves to Yahweh in that day and will become My people. Then I will (BJ)dwell in your midst, and you will (BK)know that Yahweh of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 Then Yahweh will (BL)inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again (BM)choose Jerusalem.
13 “[l](BN)Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for He is (BO)aroused from His holy habitation.”
The High Priest and a Branch
3 Then he showed me (BP)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and [m](BQ)Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And Yahweh said to Satan, “(BR)Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, Yahweh who has (BS)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a (BT)brand delivered from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with (BU)filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “(BV)Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have (BW)made your iniquity pass away from you and [n]will (BX)clothe you with festal robes.” 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean (BY)turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of Yahweh was standing by.
6 And the angel of Yahweh testified to Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If you will (BZ)walk in My ways and if you will keep the responsibility given by Me, then you will also (CA)render justice in My house and also keep My (CB)courts, and I will grant you [o]access to walk among these who are standing here. 8 Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a (CC)wondrous sign, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the [p](CD)Branch. 9 For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are (CE)seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I will (CF)remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘every one of you will call for his neighbor to sit under his (CG)vine and under his fig tree.’”
The Golden Lampstand
4 Then (CH)the angel who was speaking with me returned and (CI)roused me, as a man who is roused from his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “(CJ)What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a (CK)lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its (CL)seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it, 3 also (CM)two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, (CN)my lord?” 5 So (CO)the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “(CP)Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of Yahweh to (CQ)Zerubbabel, saying, ‘(CR)Not by [q]might nor by power, but by My (CS)Spirit,’ says Yahweh of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great (CT)mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with (CU)shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8 Also the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have (CV)laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will (CW)finish it. Then you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to [r]you. 10 For who has despised the day of (CX)small things? [s]But these (CY)seven will be glad when they see the [t](CZ)plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the (DA)eyes of Yahweh which (DB)roam to and fro throughout the earth.”
11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these (DC)two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive [u]branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he spoke to me, saying, “(DD)Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, (DE)my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two [v](DF)anointed ones who are (DG)standing by the (DH)Lord of all the earth.”
A Flying Scroll
5 Then I lifted up my eyes again and saw, and behold, a flying (DI)scroll. 2 And he said to me, “(DJ)What do you see?” And I said, “I see a flying scroll; its length is [w]twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the (DK)curse that is going forth over the face of the whole [x]land; surely everyone who (DL)steals will be [y]purged away according to [z]the writing on one side, and everyone who (DM)swears will be [aa]purged away according to the writing on the other side. 4 I will (DN)make it go forth,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “and it will (DO)enter the house of the (DP)thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and (DQ)consume it with its timber and stones.”
A Woman in an Ephah
5 Then (DR)the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” 6 So I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the [ab](DS)ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their [ac]appearance in all the [ad]land 7 (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” 8 Then he said, “This is (DT)Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead weight on its [ae]opening. 9 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a (DU)stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens. 10 And I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?” 11 Then he said to me, “To build a [af]house for her in the land of (DV)Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”
Four Chariots
6 Then I lifted up my eyes again and saw, and behold, (DW)four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. 2 With the first chariot were (DX)red horses, with the second chariot (DY)black horses, 3 with the third chariot (DZ)white horses, and with the fourth chariot (EA)dappled horses—all of them mighty. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “(EB)What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the (EC)four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, 6 with one of which the black horses are going forth to the (ED)north country; and the white ones go forth after them, and the dappled ones go forth to the (EE)south country. 7 Now the mighty ones went out, and they sought to go to [ag](EF)patrol the earth.” And He said, “Go, [ah]patrol the earth.” So they [ai]patrolled the earth. 8 Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have (EG)caused My Spirit to have rest in the land of the north.”
The Crown and the Temple
9 And the (EH)word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 10 “(EI)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you come the same day and come into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11 And take silver and gold, make an ornate (EJ)crown, and set it on the head of (EK)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then you will say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is [aj](EL)Branch, and He will [ak](EM)branch out from where He is; and He will (EN)build the temple of Yahweh. 13 Indeed, it is He who will build the temple of Yahweh, and He who will (EO)bear the splendor and sit and (EP)rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a (EQ)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two [al]offices.”’ 14 Now the (ER)crown will become a memorial in the temple of Yahweh to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and [am]Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 (ES)And those who are far off will come and [an]build the temple of Yahweh.” Then you will (ET)know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you. And it will happen if you utterly (EU)listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.
The People’s Hard Hearts
7 Now it happened that in the fourth year of King Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is (EV)Chislev. 2 And the town of Bethel sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and [ao]their men to [ap](EW)entreat the favor of Yahweh, 3 speaking to the (EX)priests, who belong to the house of Yahweh of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, “Shall I weep in the (EY)fifth month [aq]and abstain, as I have done these many years?” 4 Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying, 5 “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months [ar]these (EZ)seventy years, was it actually for (FA)Me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, [as]are you not eating for yourselves and are you not drinking for yourselves? 7 Are not these the words which Yahweh (FB)called out by the hand of the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and (FC)at ease along with its cities around it, and the [at](FD)Negev and the [au]Shephelah were inhabited?’”
8 Then the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah saying, 9 “Thus has Yahweh of hosts said, ‘(FE)Judge with true justice and show (FF)lovingkindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and (FG)do not oppress the widow or the [av]orphan, the sojourner or the afflicted; and do (FH)not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11 But they (FI)refused to give heed and [aw](FJ)turned a stubborn shoulder and [ax](FK)dulled their ears from hearing. 12 And they made their (FL)hearts [ay](FM)diamond-hard [az]so that they could not hear the law and the (FN)words which Yahweh of hosts had sent by His Spirit by the hand of the (FO)former prophets; therefore great (FP)wrath came from Yahweh of hosts. 13 And it happened that just as (FQ)He called and they would not listen, so (FR)they called and I would not listen,” says Yahweh of hosts; 14 “but I [ba](FS)scattered them with a (FT)storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is (FU)desolated behind them [bb]so that (FV)no one was passing through and returning, for they (FW)made the pleasant land desolate.”
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