\id ZEC - Christian Standard Bible® in English
\ide UTF-8
\rem Copyright © 2017-2020 by Holman Bible Publishers
\rem Language: English
\rem Text update February 2024
\toc3 Zch
\toc2 Zechariah
\toc1 Zechariah
\mt Zechariah
\c 1
\s1 A Plea for Repentance
\m
\v 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft \+xt Ezr 4:5,24; 5:5–7; Ezr 6:1,12–15; Neh 12:22; Hg 1:1,15; 2:10; Zch 7:1\+xt*\f* the word of the \nd Lord\nd* came to the prophet Zechariah~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:1 \ft \+xt Ezr 5:1; 6:14\+xt*\f* son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:
\v 2 “The \nd Lord\nd* was extremely angry with your ancestors.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:2 \ft \+xt Zch 8:14\+xt*\f*
\v 3 So tell the people, ‘This is what the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: Return to me~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies~#—~#and I will return to you, says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:3 \ft \+xt Neh 1:9; Is 44:22; Jr 3:7,10; 24:7; Am 4:6–11; Mal 3:7\+xt*\f*
\v 4 Do not be like your ancestors;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft \+xt 2Ch 30:7,8; Ps 78:8,57\+xt*\f* the earlier prophets proclaimed to them:~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft \+xt Dn 9:6,10; Am 3:7\+xt*\f* This is what the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:4 \ft \+xt 2Kg 17:13; 2Ch 7:14; Ezk 33:9,11\+xt*\f* But they did not listen or pay attention to me~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration.
\v 5 Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever?
\v 6 But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?~’~”
\p So the people repented and said, “As the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies decided to deal with us for our ways and our deeds, so he has dealt with us.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:6 \ft \+xt Jr 51:12; Lm 2:17; Zch 8:14–15\+xt*\f*
\ms The Night Visions
\m
\v 7 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 \nd Lord\nd* came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:
\s1 First Vision: Horsemen
\m
\v 8 I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a chestnut~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:8 \ft Lit \fqa red\f* horse.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:8 \ft \+xt Rv 6:4\+xt*\f* He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:8 \ft Lit \fqa depths\f* Behind him were chestnut, brown, and white horses.
\v 9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?~”
\p The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”
\p
\v 10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the \nd Lord\nd* has sent to patrol the earth.”
\p
\v 11 They reported to the angel of the \nd Lord\nd* standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:11 \ft \+xt Jos 11:23; Jdg 5:31; Is 14:7\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 12 Then the angel of the \nd Lord\nd* responded, “How long, \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that you have been angry with these seventy years?~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:12 \ft \+xt Ps 13:1; 79:5; 89:46; 90:13; Jr 25:11–12; 29:10\+xt*\f*
\v 13 The \nd Lord\nd* replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.
\p
\v 14 So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: I am extremely jealous~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:14 \ft \+xt Ex 20:5; 34:14; Dt 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Jos 24:19; Nah 1:2; Zch 8:2\+xt*\f* for Jerusalem and Zion.
\v 15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:15 \ft \+xt Is 34:2; Nah 1:2\+xt*\f* for I was a little angry, but they made the destruction worse.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:15 \ft Lit \fqa they helped for evil\f*
\v 16 Therefore, this is what the \nd Lord\nd* says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; my house will be rebuilt within it~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies~#—~#and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:16 \ft \+xt 2Kg 21:13; Is 28:17; 34:11; Lm 2:8; Am 7:17\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 17 “Proclaim further: This is what the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the \nd Lord\nd* will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:17 \ft \+xt 2Ch 6:6; Is 40:1; Zch 2:12\+xt*\f*
\s1 Second Vision: Four Horns and Craftsmen
\m
\v 18 Then I looked up and saw four horns.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 1:18 \ft \+xt Ezk 43:15,20\+xt*\f*
\v 19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?~”
\p And he said to me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
\p
\v 20 Then the \nd Lord\nd* showed me four craftsmen.
\v 21 I asked, “What are they coming to do?~”
\p He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so no one could raise his head. These craftsmen have come to terrify them, to cut off~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 1:21 \ft Lit \fqa throw down\f* the horns of the nations that raised a horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
\c 2
\s1 Third Vision: Surveyor
\m
\v 1 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
\v 2 I asked, “Where are you going?~”
\p He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to determine its width and length.”
\p
\v 3 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him.
\v 4 He said to him, “Run and tell this young man: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the number of people and animals in it.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:4 \ft \+xt Is 49:19; Jr 31:27; Ezk 36:11\+xt*\f*
\v 5 The declaration of the \nd Lord\nd*: “I myself will be a wall~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:5 \ft \+xt Is 26:1\+xt*\f* of fire around it, and I will be the glory within it.”
\p
\v 6 “Listen! Listen! Flee from the land of the north”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:6 \ft \+xt Jr 6:22; 10:22; 50:9\+xt*\f*~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration~#—~#“for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven”~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration.
\v 7 “Listen, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”
\v 8 For the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “In pursuit of his glory, he sent me against the nations plundering you, for whoever touches you touches the pupil~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 2:8 \ft Or \fqa apple\f* of my~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 2:8 \ft Alt Hb tradition; MT reads \fqa his\f* eye.
\v 9 For look, I am raising my hand against them, and they will become plunder for their own servants.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:9 \ft \+xt Is 11:15; 19:16\+xt*\f* Then you will know that the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies has sent me.
\p
\v 10 “Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration.
\v 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the \nd Lord\nd* on that day and become my~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 2:11 \ft LXX, Syr read \fqa his\f* people.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:10–11 \ft \+xt Ps 47:9; Is 42:6; Mc 4:2\+xt*\f* I will dwell among you, and you will know that the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies has sent me to you.
\v 12 The \nd Lord\nd* will take possession of Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:12 \ft \+xt 2Ch 6:6; Zch 1:17; 3:2\+xt*\f*
\v 13 Let all humanity be silent~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 2:13 \ft \+xt Hab 2:20\+xt*\f* before the \nd Lord\nd*, for from his holy dwelling he has roused himself.”
\c 3
\s1 Fourth Vision: High Priest and Branch
\m
\v 1 Then he showed me the high priest Joshua~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Hg 1:1,12,14; 2:4; Zch 6:11\+xt*\f* standing before the angel of the \nd Lord\nd*,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt Gn 16:7–13; 21:17; 22:11–16; 31:11–13\+xt*\f* with Satan~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft Or \fqa the accuser\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:1 \ft \+xt 1Ch 21:1; Jb 1:6–12; Rv 12:10\+xt*\f* standing at his right side to accuse him.
\v 2 The \nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft Syr reads \fqa The Angel of the \+nd Lord\+nd*\f* said to Satan, “The \nd Lord\nd* rebuke you, Satan! May the \nd Lord\nd* who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:2 \ft \+xt Dt 4:20; Am 4:11\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 3 Now Joshua was dressed with filthy~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 3:3 \ft Probably stained with human excrement\f* clothes~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:3 \ft \+xt Dt 23:13; Is 4:4\+xt*\f* as he stood before the angel.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:3 \ft \+xt Lv 22:3\+xt*\f*
\v 4 So the angel of the \nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 3:4 \ft Lit \fqa he\f* spoke to those~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 3:4 \ft = the angels\f* standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!~” Then he said to him, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:4 \ft \+xt 2Sm 24:10; Jb 7:21; Mc 7:18\+xt*\f* and I will clothe you with festive robes.”
\p
\v 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:5 \ft \+xt Ex 28:36–38\+xt*\f* on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the angel of the \nd Lord\nd* was standing nearby.
\p
\v 6 Then the angel of the \nd Lord\nd* charged Joshua,
\v 7 “This is what the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: If you walk in my ways and keep my mandates, you will both rule my house and take care of my courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.
\p
\v 8 “Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring my servant, the Branch.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:8 \ft \+xt Is 4:2; 11:1; Jr 23:5; 33:15; Ezk 17:22–24; Zch 6:12\+xt*\f*
\v 9 Notice the stone~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:9 \ft \+xt Ps 118:22–23; Is 8:14; 28:16; Dn 2:35,45; Zch 4:10; Rv 5:6\+xt*\f* I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:9 \ft \+xt Zch 4:10\+xt*\f* I will engrave an inscription on it”~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies~#—~#“and I will take away the iniquity of this land in a single day.
\v 10 On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 3:10 \ft \+xt 1Kg 4:25; 2Kg 18:31; Mc 4:1–8\+xt*\f* This is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\c 4
\s1 Fifth Vision: Gold Lampstand
\m
\v 1 The angel who was speaking with me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep.
\v 2 He asked me, “What do you see?~”
\p I replied, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top. The lampstand also has seven lamps at the top with seven spouts for each of~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 4:2 \ft Or \fqa seven lips to\f* the lamps.
\v 3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
\p
\v 4 Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?~”
\p
\v 5 “Don’t you know what they are?~” replied the angel who was speaking with me.
\p I said, “No, my lord.”
\p
\v 6 So he answered me, “This is the word of the \nd Lord\nd* to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:6 \ft \+xt Hs 1:7; Hg 2:4–5\+xt*\f* says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 7 ‘What are you, great mountain?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:7 \ft \+xt Mt 17:20; 21:21; 1Co 13:2\+xt*\f* Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:7 \ft \+xt Is 40:4\+xt*\f* And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!~’~”
\p
\v 8 Then the word of the \nd Lord\nd* came to me:~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:8 \ft \+xt Zch 6:9\+xt*\f*
\v 9 “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:9 \ft \+xt Ezr 3:8–11; 5:16\+xt*\f* and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies has sent me to you.
\v 10 For who despises the day of small things?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:10 \ft \+xt Hg 2:3–4\+xt*\f* These seven eyes of the \nd Lord\nd*, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the ceremonial stone~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 4:10 \ft Lit \fqa the tin stone\f* in Zerubbabel’s hand.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:10 \ft \+xt 2Ch 16:9; Ps 34:15; Pr 15:3; Am 9:8; 1Pt 3:12\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 11 I asked him, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?~”
\v 12 And I questioned him further, “What are the two streams~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 4:12 \ft Or \fqa branches\f* of the olive trees, from which the golden oil is pouring through the two golden conduits?~”
\p
\v 13 Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are?~”
\p “No, my lord,” I replied.
\p
\v 14 “These are the two anointed ones,”~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 4:14 \ft = Joshua and Zerubbabel\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:14 \ft \+xt Jr 33:17–22\+xt*\f* he said, “who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 4:14 \ft \+xt Rv 11:3–4\+xt*\f*
\c 5
\s1 Sixth Vision: Flying Scroll
\m
\v 1 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:1 \ft \+xt Ezk 2:9–10; Rv 5:1; 10:2\+xt*\f*
\v 2 “What do you see?~” he asked me.
\p “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “thirty feet~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 5:2 \ft Lit \fqa 20 cubits\f* long and fifteen feet~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 5:2 \ft Lit \fqa 10 cubits\f* wide.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:2 \ft \+xt Ex 26:15–25; 1Kg 6:3; 1Pt 4:17\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:3 \ft \+xt Dt 11:26–28; 28:15–68\+xt*\f* that is going out over the whole land, for everyone who is a thief, contrary to what is written on one side, has gone unpunished,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 5:3 \ft Or \fqa side, will be removed\f* and everyone who swears falsely, contrary to what is written on the other side, has gone unpunished.
\v 4 I will send it out,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:4 \ft \+xt Ps 147:15; Is 55:11\+xt*\f*~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies~#—~#“and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by my name. It will stay inside his house and destroy it along with its timbers and stones.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:4 \ft \+xt Ezr 6:11; Dn 2:5; 3:29\+xt*\f*
\s1 Seventh Vision: Woman in the Basket
\m
\v 5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Look up and see what this is that is approaching.”
\p
\v 6 So I asked, “What is it?~”
\p He responded, “It’s a measuring basket~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 5:6 \ft Lit \fqa It’s an ephah\f* that is approaching.” And he continued, “This is their iniquity~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 5:6 \ft One Hb ms, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read \fqa eye\f* in all the land.”
\v 7 Then a lead cover was lifted, and there was a woman~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:7 \ft \+xt Hs 9:15; Rv 17:1\+xt*\f* sitting inside the basket.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:7 \ft \+xt Lv 19:36; Dt 25:14; Pr 20:10; Ezk 45:10; Am 8:5\+xt*\f*
\v 8 “This is Wickedness,” he said. He shoved her down into the basket and pushed the lead weight over its opening.
\v 9 Then I looked up and saw two women approaching with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:9 \ft \+xt Jr 8:7\+xt*\f* and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky.
\p
\v 10 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the basket?~”
\p
\v 11 “To build a shrine for it in the land of Shinar,”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 5:11 \ft \+xt Gn 11:9\+xt*\f* he told me. “When that is ready, the basket will be placed there on its pedestal.”
\c 6
\s1 Eighth Vision: Four Chariots
\m
\v 1 Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. The mountains were made of bronze.
\v 2 The first chariot had chestnut~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 6:2 \ft Lit \fqa red\f* horses,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:2 \ft \+xt Rv 6:4\+xt*\f* the second chariot black horses,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:2 \ft \+xt Rv 6:5–6\+xt*\f*
\v 3 the third chariot white horses,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:3 \ft \+xt Rv 6:2; 19:11\+xt*\f* and the fourth chariot dappled~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:3 \ft \+xt Gn 31:10,12\+xt*\f* horses~#—~#all strong horses.
\v 4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?~”
\p
\v 5 The angel told me, “These are the four spirits~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 6:5 \ft Or \fqa winds\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:5 \ft \+xt Jr 49:36; Rv 7:1–3\+xt*\f* of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth.
\v 6 The one with the black horses is going to the land of the north, the white horses are going after them, but the dappled horses are going to the land of the south.”
\v 7 As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and the \nd Lord\nd* said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
\v 8 Then he summoned me saying, “See, those going to the land of the north have pacified my Spirit in the northern land.”
\s1 Crowning of the Branch
\m
\v 9 The word of the \nd Lord\nd* came to me:~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:9 \ft \+xt Zch 4:8\+xt*\f*
\v 10 “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
\v 11 Take silver and gold, make a crown,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 6:11 \ft Lit \fqa crowns\f* and place it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
\v 12 You are to tell him: This is what the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says: Here is a man whose name is Branch;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:12 \ft \+xt Zch 3:8\+xt*\f* he will branch out from his place and build the \nd Lord\nd*’s temple.
\v 13 Yes, he will build the \nd Lord\nd*’s temple; he will bear royal splendor~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:13 \ft \+xt 1Ch 16:27; 29:25; Ps 96:6\+xt*\f* and will sit on his throne and rule. There will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:13 \ft \+xt Ps 45:6–7; 110:1–7; Dn 7:9–14; Heb 1:3,13; Rv 5:6\+xt*\f*
\v 14 The crown will reside in the \nd Lord\nd*’s temple as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 6:14 \ft Probably Josiah\f* son of Zephaniah.
\v 15 People who are far off will come and build the \nd Lord\nd*’s temple, and you will know that the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen when you fully obey the \nd Lord\nd* your God.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 6:15 \ft \+xt Dt 28:1\+xt*\f*
\c 7
\s1 Disobedience and Fasting
\m
\v 1 In the fourth year of King Darius,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:1 \ft \+xt Zch 1:1\+xt*\f* the word of the \nd Lord\nd* came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.
\v 2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to plead for the \nd Lord\nd*’s favor~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:2 \ft \+xt Zch 8:21–22\+xt*\f*
\v 3 by asking the priests who were at the house of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years?~”
\p
\v 4 Then the word of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies came to me:
\v 5 “Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these seventy years, did you really fast for me?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:5 \ft \+xt Is 58:1–7\+xt*\f*
\v 6 When you eat and drink, don’t you eat and drink simply for yourselves?~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:6 \ft \+xt 1Co 10:31\+xt*\f*
\v 7 Aren’t these the words that the \nd Lord\nd* proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and secure,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 7:7 \ft Or \fqa prosperous\f* along with its surrounding cities, and when the southern region and the Judean foothills were inhabited?~”
\p
\v 8 The word of the \nd Lord\nd* came to Zechariah:
\v 9 “The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: ‘Make fair decisions.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:9 \ft \+xt Ex 18:19–23; Zch 8:16\+xt*\f* Show faithful love and compassion~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:9 \ft \+xt Jr 7:5–7; Hs 10:12; Mc 6:8\+xt*\f* to one another.
\v 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the resident alien or the poor,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:10 \ft \+xt Dt 14:29; 16:11\+xt*\f* and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:10 \ft \+xt Mt 22:39; Jms 3:5–6\+xt*\f*
\v 11 But they refused to pay attention~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:11 \ft \+xt Zch 1:4\+xt*\f* and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:11 \ft \+xt Is 6:10\+xt*\f*
\v 12 They made their hearts like a rock so as not to obey the law or the words that the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 7:12 \ft \+xt Jr 7:13,24\+xt*\f* Therefore intense anger came from the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 13 Just as he had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen, says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 14 I scattered them with a windstorm over all the nations that had not known them, and the land was left desolate behind them, with no one coming or going. They turned a pleasant land into a desolation.”
\c 8
\s1 Obedience and Feasting
\m
\v 1 The word of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies came:
\v 2 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:2 \ft \+xt Zch 1:14\+xt*\f* for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.”
\v 3 The \nd Lord\nd* says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:3 \ft \+xt Is 1:26\+xt*\f* the mountain of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.”
\v 4 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age.
\v 5 The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.”
\v 6 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “Though it may seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible to me?~”~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 7 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “I will save my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 8:7 \ft Lit \fqa sunset\f*
\v 8 I will bring them back~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:8 \ft \+xt Is 11:11–12; Mc 2:12–13\+xt*\f* to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:8 \ft \+xt Gn 17:7–8; Dt 26:17–18; Rv 21:3\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 9 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 10 For prior to those days neither people nor animals had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor.
\v 11 But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
\v 12 “For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:12 \ft \+xt Dt 31:7; Jos 1:6; Is 49:8\+xt*\f*
\v 13 As you have been a curse among the nations,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:13 \ft \+xt Dt 21:23; 2Kg 22:19\+xt*\f* house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:13 \ft \+xt Gn 12:2–3\+xt*\f* Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong.”
\v 14 For the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “As I resolved to treat you badly when your ancestors provoked me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies,
\v 15 “so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:15 \ft \+xt Dt 8:16; Jr 32:40–41; Ezk 36:11\+xt*\f* Don’t be afraid.
\v 16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates.
\v 17 Do not plot evil~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:17 \ft \+xt Mc 2:1\+xt*\f* in your hearts against your neighbor,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:17 \ft \+xt Dt 10:12–22; Mt 22:39\+xt*\f* and do not love perjury,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:17 \ft \+xt Lv 5:4; Nm 30:2; Jr 5:2\+xt*\f* for I hate all this”~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration.
\p
\v 18 Then the word of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies came to me:
\v 19 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “The fast of the fourth month,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:19 \ft \+xt 2Kg 25:3–4; Jr 39:2\+xt*\f* the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:19 \ft \+xt 2Kg 25:1; Jr 39:1\+xt*\f* will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.”
\v 20 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities;
\v 21 the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the \nd Lord\nd*’s favor and to seek the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies. I am also going.
\v 22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the \nd Lord\nd*’s favor.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:20–22 \ft \+xt Is 2:2–3; Jr 16:19; Mc 4:1–3; Mal 1:11–14\+xt*\f*
\v 23 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 8:23 \ft \+xt Is 4:1\+xt*\f* for we have heard that God is with you.”
\c 9
\s1 Judgment of Zion’s Enemies
\m
\v 1 A pronouncement:
\q The word of~the~\nd Lord\nd*
\q is against the land of~Hadrach,
\q and Damascus~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:1 \ft \+xt Gn 15:2; 1Kg 11:24; Sg 7:4; Is 7:8; Am 1:3\+xt*\f* is its~resting~place~—
\q for the eyes of~humanity
\q and all the tribes of~Israel
\q are on the~\nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 9:1 \ft Or \fqa eyes of the \+nd Lord\+nd* are on mankind\ft —\f*~—
\q1
\v 2 and also against Hamath,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:2 \ft \+xt 2Kg 14:25\+xt*\f* which~borders~it,
\q as well as Tyre~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:2 \ft \+xt Jos 19:29; Is 23:1\+xt*\f* and~Sidon,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:2 \ft \+xt Gn 10:15\+xt*\f*
\q though they are very~shrewd.
\q1
\v 3 Tyre has built herself a~fortress;
\q she has heaped up silver like~dust
\q and gold like the dirt of~the~streets.
\q1
\v 4 Listen! The Lord will impoverish~her
\q and cast her wealth into~the~sea;
\q she herself will be consumed by~fire.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:4 \ft \+xt Ezk 26:4–6; 27:27\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 5 Ashkelon will see it and~be~afraid;
\q Gaza too, and will writhe in~great~pain,
\q as will Ekron, for~her~hope will~fail.
\q There will cease to be a~king in~Gaza,
\q and Ashkelon will become~uninhabited.
\q1
\v 6 A mongrel people will~live in~Ashdod,
\q and I will destroy the~pride of~the~Philistines.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:6 \ft \+xt Am 1:6–8; Zph 2:4–6\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 7 I will remove the~blood from~their~mouths
\q and the abhorrent~things~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:7 \ft \+xt Lv 11:10; Dt 29:17; Dn 11:31\+xt*\f*
\q from between their~teeth.
\q Then they too will become a~remnant for~our~God;
\q they will become like~a~clan in~Judah
\q and Ekron like the~Jebusites.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:7 \ft \+xt 2Sm 5:6–10; 24:16–25\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 8 I will encamp at~my~house as~a~guard,
\q against those who march back~and~forth,
\q and no oppressor will march against~them~again,
\q for now I have seen with~my~own~eyes.
\s1 The Coming of Zion’s King
\q1
\v 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter~Zion!
\q Shout in triumph, Daughter~Jerusalem!
\q Look, your King is~coming to~you;
\q he is righteous and~victorious,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 9:9 \ft Or \fqa and has salvation\f*
\q humble and riding on~a~donkey,
\q on a colt, the foal of~a~donkey.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:9 \ft \+xt Is 62:11; Mt 21:5; Jn 12:15\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 10 I will cut off the~chariot from~Ephraim
\q and the horse from~Jerusalem.
\q The bow of war will~be~removed,
\q and he will proclaim peace to~the~nations.
\q His dominion will extend from~sea to~sea,
\q from the Euphrates~River
\q to the ends of~the~earth.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:10 \ft \+xt Ps 72:8; Mc 7:12\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 11 As for~you,
\q because of the~blood of~your~covenant,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:11 \ft \+xt Heb 10:29; 13:20\+xt*\f*
\q I will release your~prisoners
\q from the~waterless~cistern.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:11 \ft \+xt Gn 37:24; Jr 38:6\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 12 Return to a~stronghold,
\q you prisoners who~have~hope;
\q today I declare that I~will~restore double to~you.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:12 \ft \+xt Jb 42:10; Is 61:7; Jr 16:18\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 13 For I will bend Judah as~my~bow;
\q I will fill that bow with~Ephraim.
\q I will rouse your sons,~Zion,
\q against your sons,~Greece.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 9:13 \ft Lit \fqa Javan\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:13 \ft \+xt Dn 8:21; 10:20\+xt*\f*
\q I will make you like~a~warrior’s~sword.
\q1
\v 14 Then the \nd Lord\nd* will~appear over~them,
\q and his arrow will~fly like~lightning.
\q The Lord \nd God\nd* will~sound the~ram’s~horn
\q and advance with~the~southern~storms.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:14 \ft \+xt Ps 83:15\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 15 The \nd Lord\nd* of Armies will defend~them.
\q They will consume and~conquer with~slingstones;
\q they will drink and~be~rowdy as~if with~wine.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:15 \ft \+xt Nm 23:24\+xt*\f*
\q They will be as full as the~sprinkling~basin,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:15 \ft \+xt Ex 27:3\+xt*\f*
\q like those at~the~corners of~the~altar.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:15 \ft \+xt Lv 1:5,11; 3:2\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 16 The \nd Lord\nd* their God will save~them on~that~day
\q as the flock of~his~people;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:16 \ft \+xt Ezk 36:38\+xt*\f*
\q for they are like~jewels in~a~crown,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 9:16 \ft \+xt Lv 8:9\+xt*\f*
\q sparkling over his~land.
\q1
\v 17 How lovely and beautiful!
\q Grain will make the~young~men~flourish,
\q and new wine, the~young~women.
\c 10
\s1 The \nd Lord\nd* Restores His People
\q1
\v 1 Ask the \nd Lord\nd* for~rain
\q in the season of~spring~rain.
\q The \nd Lord\nd* makes the~rain~clouds,
\q and he will give them showers of~rain
\q and crops in the field for~everyone.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:1 \ft \+xt Dt 28:12; Is 30:23; Jr 51:16\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 2 For the idols speak~falsehood,
\q and the diviners~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:2 \ft \+xt Jr 27:9; Mc 3:7\+xt*\f* see~illusions;
\q they relate empty~dreams
\q and offer empty~comfort.
\q Therefore the people wander like~sheep;
\q they suffer affliction because there~is no~shepherd.
\q1
\v 3 My anger burns against~the~shepherds,
\q so I will punish the~leaders.~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 10:3 \ft Lit \fqa male goats\f*
\q For the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies has~tended his~flock,
\q the house of~Judah;
\q he will make them like~his~majestic~steed in~battle.
\q1
\v 4 The cornerstone,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:4 \ft \+xt Jdg 20:2; 1Sm 14:38; Ps 118:22; Is 28:16\+xt*\f* the~tent~peg,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:4 \ft \+xt Jdg 4:21\+xt*\f*
\q the~battle~bow,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:4 \ft \+xt 2Kg 13:15–17; Rv 6:2\+xt*\f* and every~ruler~—
\q all will go~out from~him together.
\q1
\v 5 They will~be like~warriors in~battle
\q trampling down the mud of~the~streets.
\q They will fight because the~\nd Lord\nd* is with~them,
\q and they will put horsemen to~shame.
\q1
\v 6 I will strengthen the~house of~Judah
\q and deliver the~house of~Joseph.~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 10:6 \ft = the northern kingdom\f*
\q I will restore~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 10:6 \ft Other Hb mss, LXX read \fqa settle\f*~them
\q because I have compassion on~them,
\q and they will~be
\q as though I had never rejected~them.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:6 \ft \+xt Ps 103:12\+xt*\f*
\q For I am the \nd Lord\nd*~their~God,
\q and I will answer~them.
\q1
\v 7 Ephraim~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:7 \ft \+xt Is 7:8\+xt*\f* will be like~a~warrior,
\q and their hearts will~be~glad as~if with~wine.
\q Their children will see it and~be~glad;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:7 \ft \+xt Ex 4:14; Ps 16:9\+xt*\f*
\q their hearts will rejoice in~the~\nd Lord\nd*.
\b
\q1
\v 8 I will whistle~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:8 \ft \+xt Is 5:26; 7:18\+xt*\f* and~gather~them
\q because I have redeemed~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:8 \ft \+xt Ex 13:13; 21:8; 34:20; Jb 5:20; Ps 130:8; Is 51:11; Mc 6:4\+xt*\f*~them;
\q they will be as numerous as they~once~were.
\q1
\v 9 Though I sow~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:9 \ft \+xt Gn 26:12; Ex 23:16; Ps 126:5\+xt*\f* them among~the~nations,
\q they will remember~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:9 \ft \+xt Gn 40:23; Jos 1:13\+xt*\f* me in~the~distant~lands;
\q they and their children will~live and~return.
\q1
\v 10 I will bring them back from~the~land of~Egypt
\q and gather them from~Assyria.
\q I will bring them to~the~land of~Gilead~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:10 \ft \+xt Gn 31:21; Dt 34:1; Ps 60:7\+xt*\f*
\q and to~Lebanon,
\q but it will not be enough for~them.
\q1
\v 11 The \nd Lord\nd*~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 10:11 \ft Lit \fqa He\f* will pass through the~sea of~distress
\q and strike the waves of~the~sea;
\q all the depths of the Nile will~dry~up.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:11 \ft \+xt Gn 8:7; Jos 2:10; 4:23; 1Kg 17:7; Jb 12:15; Ps 74:15; Pr 17:22\+xt*\f*
\q The pride of Assyria will~be brought~down,
\q and the scepter of Egypt will~come to~an~end.
\q1
\v 12 I will strengthen~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:12 \ft \+xt Zch 10:6\+xt*\f* them in~the \nd Lord\nd*,
\q and they will march~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 10:12 \ft \+xt Jos 6:3; Ps 68:7; Jr 46:9\+xt*\f* in~his~name~—
\qm this~is the \nd Lord\nd*’s~declaration.
\c 11
\s1 Israel’s Shepherds: Good and Bad
\q1
\v 1 Open your gates,~Lebanon,
\q and fire will consume your~cedars.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:1 \ft \+xt Jdg 9:15; 2Kg 19:23; Ps 29:5; Sg 5:15; Is 2:13\+xt*\f*
\q1
\v 2 Wail, cypress,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:2 \ft \+xt Is 14:8\+xt*\f* for~the~cedar has~fallen;
\q the glorious trees are~destroyed!
\q Wail, oaks of~Bashan,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:2 \ft \+xt Is 2:13; Ezk 27:6\+xt*\f*
\q for the stately forest has~fallen!
\q1
\v 3 Listen to the wail~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:3 \ft \+xt Is 15:8; Zph 1:10\+xt*\f* of~the~shepherds,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:3 \ft \+xt Zch 10:2–3\+xt*\f*
\q for their glory is~destroyed.
\q Listen to the roar of~young~lions,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:3 \ft \+xt Jb 4:10; Ps 34:10; Is 5:29; Nah 2:11\+xt*\f*
\q for the thickets of~the~Jordan~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:3 \ft \+xt Jr 49:19\+xt*\f* are~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 11:3 \ft Lit \fqa for the majesty of the Jordan is\f*~destroyed.
\b
\p
\v 4 The \nd Lord\nd* my God says this: “Shepherd the flock intended for slaughter.
\v 5 Those who buy them slaughter them but are not punished.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:5 \ft \+xt Ps 34:22\+xt*\f* Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the \nd Lord\nd* because I have become rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
\v 6 Indeed, I will no longer have compassion on the inhabitants of the land”~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration. “Instead, I will turn everyone over to his neighbor and his king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue it from their hand.”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:6 \ft \+xt Jr 13:14; Lm 2:2,17,21; Ezk 7:4,9\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 7 So I shepherded the flock intended for slaughter, the oppressed of the flock.~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 11:7 \ft LXX reads \fqa slaughter that belonged to the sheep merchants\f* I took two staffs, calling one Favor~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:7 \ft \+xt Ps 90:17; Zch 11:10\+xt*\f* and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock.
\v 8 In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.
\v 9 Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let what is dying die, and let what is perishing perish; let the rest devour each other’s flesh.”
\v 10 Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, annulling the covenant I had made with all the peoples.
\v 11 It was annulled on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 11:11 \ft LXX reads \fqa and the sheep merchants\f* who were watching me knew that it was the word of the \nd Lord\nd*.
\v 12 Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:12 \ft \+xt Ex 21:32\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 13 “Throw it to the potter,”~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 11:13 \ft Syr reads \fqa treasury\f* the \nd Lord\nd* said to me~#—~#this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the \nd Lord\nd*, to the potter.~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 11:13 \ft One Hb ms, Syr read \fqa treasury\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:13 \ft \+xt Mt 26:15; 27:3–10\+xt*\f*
\v 14 Then I cut in two my second staff, Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
\p
\v 15 The \nd Lord\nd* also said to me, “Take the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
\v 16 I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are perishing, and he will not seek the lost~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 11:16 \ft Or \fqa young\f* or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 11:16 \ft Or \fqa exhausted\f* but he will devour the flesh of the fat sheep~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:16 \ft \+xt Ezk 34:3–4\+xt*\f* and tear off their hooves.
\q1
\v 17 Woe to the~worthless~shepherd
\q who deserts the~flock!~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 11:17 \ft \+xt Jr 23:2\+xt*\f*
\q May a sword strike~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 11:17 \ft Lit \fqa be against\f* his~arm
\q and his right~eye!
\q May his arm wither~away
\q and his right eye go completely~blind!~”
\c 12
\s1 Judah’s Security
\m
\v 1 A pronouncement:
\q The word of the \nd Lord\nd* concerning~Israel.
\q A declaration of~the~\nd Lord\nd*,
\q who stretched out the~heavens,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:1 \ft \+xt Is 45:12; 51:13; Jr 10:12; 51:15\+xt*\f*
\q laid the foundation of~the~earth,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:1 \ft \+xt Jb 38:4; Heb 1:10\+xt*\f*
\q and formed the spirit of~man within~him.
\b
\p
\v 2 “Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:2 \ft \+xt Is 51:22–23; Jr 25:15–16; Rv 16:19\+xt*\f* for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:2 \ft \+xt Jr 4:16; Ezk 38:8–9,14–16; Zch 14:2\+xt*\f*
\v 3 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.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:3 \ft \+xt Jl 3:1–2\+xt*\f*
\v 4 On that day”~#—~#this is the \nd Lord\nd*’s declaration~#—~#“I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:4 \ft \+xt Dt 28:28\+xt*\f* I will keep a watchful eye on~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:4 \ft \+xt Is 37:17; Jr 32:19\+xt*\f* the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness.
\v 5 Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: The residents of Jerusalem are my strength through the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, their God.
\v 6 On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:6 \ft \+xt Jr 5:14; Ob 18\+xt*\f* like a flaming torch among sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and the left, while Jerusalem continues to be inhabited on its site, in Jerusalem.
\v 7 The \nd Lord\nd* will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of David’s house and the glory of Jerusalem’s residents may not be greater than that of Judah.
\v 8 On that day the \nd Lord\nd* will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:8 \ft \+xt 2Kg 19:34; 20:6; Is 37:35; 38:6; Zch 9:15\+xt*\f* so that on that day the one who is weakest among them will be like David on that day, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the \nd Lord\nd*, before them.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:8 \ft \+xt Lv 26:8; Jos 23:10\+xt*\f*
\v 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
\s1 Mourning for the Pierced One
\m
\v 10 “Then I will pour out a spirit~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 12:10 \ft Or \fqa out the Spirit\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:10 \ft \+xt Is 44:3; Ezk 36:27; 39:29; Jl 2:28–29; Zch 4:6; Ac 2:17\+xt*\f* of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 12:10 \ft Or \fqa to\f* me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:10 \ft \+xt Jr 6:26; Jn 19:37; Rv 1:7\+xt*\f*
\v 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
\v 12 The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 12:12 \ft = a son of David\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:12 \ft \+xt 2Sm 5:14; Lk 3:31\+xt*\f* house by itself and their women by themselves;
\v 13 the family of Levi’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Shimei~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 12:13 \ft = a descendant of Levi\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 12:13 \ft \+xt Ex 6:17; Nm 3:18; 1Ch 6:17\+xt*\f* by itself and their women by themselves;
\v 14 all the remaining families, every family by itself, and their women by themselves.
\c 13
\s1 God’s People Cleansed
\m
\v 1 “On that day a fountain~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:1 \ft \+xt Ps 36:9; 68:26; Pr 14:27; Jr 2:13; 17:13\+xt*\f* will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:1 \ft \+xt Zch 3:1–10\+xt*\f*
\v 2 On that day”~#—~#this is the declaration of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies~#—~#“I will remove the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:2 \ft \+xt Ex 17:14; Dt 12:3; 25:19; 29:20; 32:26; Ps 34:16; 109:15\+xt*\f* I will banish the prophets~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 13:2 \ft = false prophets\f* and the unclean spirit from the land.
\v 3 If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You cannot remain alive because you have spoken a lie in the name of the \nd Lord\nd*.’ When he prophesies, his father and his mother who bore him will pierce him through.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:3 \ft \+xt Dt 13:5; 18:20; Jr 14:14–15; 23:14–16,30–31; 27:15–16; Ezk 13:2–4,9,16; Mc 3:5–6,11\+xt*\f*
\v 4 On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not put on a hairy cloak~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:4 \ft \+xt 1Kg 19:13,19; 2Kg 2:8\+xt*\f* in order to deceive.
\v 5 He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 13:5 \ft Or \fqa sold\f* me as a servant since my youth.’~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:5 \ft \+xt Am 7:14\+xt*\f*
\v 6 If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:6 \ft \+xt 1Kg 18:28\+xt*\f* on your chest?’~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 13:6 \ft Lit \fqa wounds between your hands\f*~#—~#then he will answer, ‘I received the wounds in the house of my friends.’
\q1
\v 7 Sword, awake against~my~shepherd,
\q against the man who~is my~associate~—
\qm this~is the~declaration of~the~\nd Lord\nd* of~Armies.
\q Strike the shepherd, and~the~sheep will~be~scattered;~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:7 \ft \+xt Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27\+xt*\f*
\q I will turn my hand against~the~little~ones.
\q1
\v 8 In the whole land~—
\qm this is the~\nd Lord\nd*’s~declaration~—
\q two-thirds~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 13:8 \ft Lit \fqa two-thirds in it\f* will~be cut~off and~die,
\q but a third will~be~left in~it.
\q1
\v 9 I will put this third through~the~fire;
\q I will refine them as~silver is~refined
\q and test them as~gold is~tested.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:9 \ft \+xt Ps 66:10; Pr 17:3; Is 48:10; Mal 3:3\+xt*\f*
\q They will call on~my~name,
\q and I will answer~them.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:9 \ft \+xt Ps 20:9; 27:7; 86:7; 102:2; Pr 1:28; Is 58:9; 65:24; Jr 33:3\+xt*\f*
\q I will say, ‘They~are my~people,’
\q and they will say, ‘The \nd Lord\nd* is our~God.’~”~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 13:9 \ft \+xt Ex 6:7; Lv 26:12; Jr 7:23; 11:4; 24:7; 30:22; 31:1,33; 32:38; Ezk 11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:23,27; Zch 8:8; 2Co 6:16; Heb 8:10\+xt*\f*
\c 14
\s1 The \nd Lord\nd*’s Triumph and Reign
\m
\v 1 Look, a day belonging to the \nd Lord\nd* is coming~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:1 \ft \+xt Is 39:6; Jr 7:32; Am 9:13\+xt*\f* when the plunder taken from you will be divided in your presence.
\v 2 I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:2 \ft \+xt Jl 3:2; Zch 12:2–3\+xt*\f* The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
\p
\v 3 Then the \nd Lord\nd* will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:3 \ft \+xt Rv 19:11–21\+xt*\f*
\v 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:4 \ft \+xt Ezk 11:23; Mt 24:3; Ac 1:11–12\+xt*\f* which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south.
\v 5 You will flee by my mountain valley,~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft Some Hb mss, LXX, Sym, Tg read \fqa The valley of my mountains will be blocked\f* for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft LXX reads \fqa It will be blocked as it was blocked\f* from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft \+xt Am 1:1\+xt*\f* Then the \nd Lord\nd* my God will come and all the holy ones~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft \+xt Dt 33:2–3; Ps 89:5,7; Dn 7:21; Jd 14\+xt*\f* with him.~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg, Tg, Syr; other Hb mss read \fqa you\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:5 \ft \+xt Ps 89:5–7; Mt 25:31\+xt*\f*
\p
\v 6 On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight will diminish.~\f + \cat (I)\cat* \fr 14:6 \ft LXX, Sym, Syr, Tg, Vg read \fqa no light or cold or ice\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:6 \ft Lit \fqa no light; the precious ones will congeal\f*\sup ,\sup*\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:6 \ft \+xt Is 13:10; Jl 2:10; 3:15\+xt*\f*
\v 7 It will be a unique day known only to the \nd Lord\nd*,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:7 \ft \+xt Mt 24:36\+xt*\f* without day or night, but there will be light at evening.
\p
\v 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem,~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:8 \ft \+xt Ezk 41:7; 47:1–12; Jl 3:18; Rv 8:8–9; 16:3\+xt*\f* half of it toward the eastern sea~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 14:8 \ft = the Dead Sea\f* and the other half toward the western sea,~\f + \cat (III)\cat* \fr 14:8 \ft = the Mediterranean Sea\f* in summer and winter alike.
\v 9 On that day the \nd Lord\nd* will become King over the whole earth~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:9 \ft \+xt Mt 25:31\+xt*\f*~#—~#the \nd Lord\nd* alone, and his name alone.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:9 \ft \+xt Dt 4:35,39; 6:4; Is 45:5\+xt*\f*
\v 10 All the land from Geba~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft \+xt 2Kg 23:8\+xt*\f* to Rimmon~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft \+xt Neh 11:29\+xt*\f* south of Jerusalem will be changed into a plain. But Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft Or \fqa will be inhabited\f* on its site from the Benjamin Gate~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft \+xt Jr 37:13\+xt*\f* to the place of the First Gate,~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft Or \fqa the former gate\f* to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:10 \ft \+xt Neh 3:1; 12:39; Jr 31:38–40\+xt*\f*
\v 11 People will live there, and never again will there be a curse of complete destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell in security.
\p
\v 12 This will be the plague with which the \nd Lord\nd* strikes all the people who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
\v 13 On that day a great panic from the \nd Lord\nd* will be among them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of one will rise against the other.
\v 14 Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected: gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:14 \ft \+xt Mc 4:13; Hg 2:7\+xt*\f*
\v 15 The same plague as the previous one will strike~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:15 \ft Lit \fqa be on\f* the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the animals that are in those camps.
\p
\v 16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:16 \ft \+xt Lv 23:33–36\+xt*\f*
\v 17 Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies, rain will not fall on them.
\v 18 And if the people~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:18 \ft Lit \fqa family\f* of Egypt will not go up and enter, then rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague the \nd Lord\nd* inflicts on the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
\v 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
\p
\v 20 On that day, the words \nd Holy to the Lord\nd* will be on the bells of the horses.~\f + \cat (IV)\cat* \fr 14:20 \ft \+xt Ex 28:36; 39:30\+xt*\f* The pots in the house of the \nd Lord\nd* will be like the sprinkling basins before the altar.
\v 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies. All who sacrifice will come and use the pots to cook in. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite~\f + \cat (II)\cat* \fr 14:21 \ft Or \fqa merchant\f* in the house of the \nd Lord\nd* of Armies.
