Category: Zechariah

A Plea for Repentance

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,the word of theLordcame to the prophet Zechariahson of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

2 “TheLordwas extremely angry with your ancestors.

3 So tell the people: This is what theLordof Hosts says: Return to Me” — this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts — “and I will return to you, says theLordof Hosts.

4 Do not be like your ancestors;the earlier prophets proclaimed to them:This is what theLordof Hosts says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.But they did not listen or pay attention to Me” — this is theLord’s declaration.

5 “Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever?

6 But didn’t My words and My statutes that I commanded My servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? They repented and said: As theLordof Hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so He has dealt with us.”

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 theLordcame to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

First Vision: Horsemen

8 I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a red horse.He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 I asked, “What are these, my lord? ”

The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”

10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones theLordhas sent to patrol the earth.”

11 They reported to the Angel of theLordstanding among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet.”

12 Then the Angel of theLordresponded, “How long,Lordof Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that You have been angry with these 70 years? ”

13 TheLordreplied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: TheLordof Hosts says: I am extremely jealousfor Jerusalem and Zion.

15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease,for I was a little angry, but they made it worse.

16 Therefore, this is what theLordsays: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it” — this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts — “and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

17 “Proclaim further: This is what theLordof Hosts says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; theLordwill once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”

Second Vision: Four Horns and Craftsmen

18 Then I looked up and saw four horns.

19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these? ”

And he said to me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then theLordshowed me four craftsmen.

21 I asked, “What are they coming to do? ”

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 the horns of the nations that raised their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/1-ce24e2334876db130aedbec2b752a029.mp3?version_id=72—

Third Vision: Surveyor

1 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 I asked, “Where are you going? ”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to determine its width and length.”

3 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him.

4 He said to him, “Run and tell this young man: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the number of people and livestock in it.”

5 The declaration of theLord: “I will be a wallof fire around it, and I will be the glory within it.”

6 “Get up! Leave the land of the north”— this is theLord’s declaration — “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven” — this is theLord’s declaration.

7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”

8 For theLordof Hosts says this: “He has sent Mefor His glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupilof Hiseye.

9 I will move against them with Mypower, and they will become plunder for their own servants.Then you will know that theLordof Hosts has sent Me.

10 “Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you” — this is theLord’s declaration.

11 “Many nations will join themselves to theLordon that day and become Mypeople.I will dwell among you, and you will know that theLordof Hosts has sent Meto you.

12 TheLordwill take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem.

13 Let all people be silentbefore theLord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/2-af3e5bc2bcb718734dc0f9df94a77a6f.mp3?version_id=72—

Fourth Vision: High Priest and Branch

1 Then he showed me Joshuathe high priest standing before the Angel of theLord,with Satanstanding at his right side to accuse him.

2 TheLordsaid to Satan: “TheLordrebuke you, Satan! May theLordwho has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire? ”

3 Now Joshua was dressed with filthyclothesas he stood before the Angel.

4 So the Angel of theLordspoke to thosestanding before Him, “Take off his filthy clothes! ” Then He said to him, “See, I have removed your guilt from you,and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turbanon his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the Angel of theLordwas standing nearby.

6 Then the Angel of theLordcharged Joshua:

7 “This is what theLordof Hosts says: If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, you will both rule My house and take care of My courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.

8 “Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring My servant, the Branch.

9 Notice the stoneI have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes.I will engrave an inscription on it” — this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts — “and I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day.

10 On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.”This is the declaration of theLordof Hosts.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/3-720d468e55ff9f3b2f8ba2cef19ed5b6.mp3?version_id=72—

Fifth Vision: Gold Lampstand

1 The angel who was speaking with me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep.

2 He asked me, “What do you see? ”

I replied, “I see a solid gold lampstand there with a bowl on its top. It has seven lamps on it and seven channels for each ofthe lamps on its top.

3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4 Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord? ”

5 “Don’t you know what they are? ” replied the angel who was speaking with me.

I said, “No, my lord.”

6 So he answered me, “This is the word of theLordto Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’says theLordof Hosts.

7 ‘What are you, great mountain?Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain.And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it! ’ ”

8 Then the word of theLordcame to me:

9 “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house,and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that theLordof Hosts has sent me to you.

10 For who scorns the day of small things?These seven eyes of theLord, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb linein Zerubbabel’s hand.”

11 I asked him, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand? ”

12 And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which golden oil pours out? ”

13 Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are? ”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

14 “These are the two anointed ones,”he said, “who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/4-d0e2031e54749b3127b239f939cb30f3.mp3?version_id=72—

Sixth Vision: Flying Scroll

1 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.

2 “What do you see? ” he asked me.

“I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “30 feetlong and 15 feetwide.”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the cursethat is going out over the whole land, for every thief will be removed according to what is written on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be removed according to what is written on the other side.

4 I will send it out,”— this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts — “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.”

Seventh Vision: Woman in the Basket

5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Look up and see what this is that is approaching.”

6 So I asked, “What is it? ”

He responded, “It’s a measuring basketthat is approaching.” And he continued, “This is their iniquityin all the land.”

7 Then a lead cover was lifted, and there was a womansitting inside the basket.

8 “This is Wickedness,” he said. He shoved her down into the basket and pushed the lead weight over its opening.

9 Then I looked up and saw two women approaching with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork,and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky.

10 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the basket? ”

11 “To build a shrine for it in the land of Shinar,”he told me. “When that is ready, the basket will be placed there on its pedestal.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/5-7346ee62c2bf5b0fda0aedf9f760b179.mp3?version_id=72—

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

1 Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. And the mountains were made of bronze.

2 The first chariot had red horses,the second chariot black horses,

3 the third chariot white horses,and the fourth chariot dappledhorses — all strong horses.

4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord? ”

5 The angel told me, “These are the four spiritsof heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth.

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.”

7 As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and theLordsaid, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

8 Then He summoned me saying, “See, those going to the land of the north have pacified My Spirit in the northern land.”

Crowning of the Branch

9 The word of theLordcame to me:

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.

11 Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

12 You are to tell him: This is what theLordof Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch;He will branch out from His place and build theLord’s temple.

13 Yes, He will build theLord’s temple; He will be clothed in splendorand will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.

14 The crown will reside in theLord’s temple as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Henson of Zephaniah.

15 People who are far off will come and build theLord’s temple, and you will know that theLordof Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen when you fully obey theLordyour God.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/6-e99cfc9989b8716fb3a0ebaef26cc2c6.mp3?version_id=72—

Disobedience and Fasting

1 In the fourth year of King Darius,the word of theLordcame to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.

2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to plead for theLord’s favor

3 by asking the priests who were at the house of theLordof Hosts as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years? ”

4 Then the word of theLordof Hosts came to me:

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 70 years, did you really fast for Me?

6 When you eat and drink, don’t you eat and drink simply for yourselves?

7 Aren’t these the words that theLordproclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and secure,along with its surrounding cities, and when the southern region and the Judean foothills were inhabited? ”

8 The word of theLordcame to Zechariah:

9 “TheLordof Hosts says this: Make fair decisions.Show faithful love and compassionto one another.

10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor,and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.

11 But they refused to pay attentionand turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear.

12 They made their hearts like a rock so as not to obey the law or the words that theLordof Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets.Therefore great anger came from theLordof Hosts.

13 Just as He had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen,” says theLordof Hosts.

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.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/7-fc399bca354ff558f661b1c35ec660fd.mp3?version_id=72—

Obedience and Feasting

1 The word of theLordof Hosts came:

2 “TheLordof Hosts says this: I am extremely jealousfor Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

3 TheLordsays this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,the mountain of theLordof Hosts, and the Holy Mountain.”

4 TheLordof Hosts says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age.

5 The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.”

6 TheLordof Hosts says this: “Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me? ” — this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts.

7 TheLordof Hosts says this: “I will save My people from the land of the east and the land of the west.

8 I will bring them backto live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

9 TheLordof Hosts 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 theLordof Hosts.

10 For prior to those days neither man nor beast had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor.

11 But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days” — this is the declaration of theLordof Hosts.

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.

13 As you have been a curse among the nations,house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong.”

14 For theLordof Hosts says this: “As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says theLordof Hosts,

15 “so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.Don’t be afraid.

16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your gates.

17 Do not plot evilin your hearts against your neighbor,and do not love perjury,for I hate all this” — this is theLord’s declaration.

18 Then the word of theLordof Hosts came to me:

19 “TheLordof Hosts says this: The fast of the fourth month,the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenthwill become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.”

20 TheLordof Hosts says this: “Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities;

21 the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for theLord’s favor and to seek theLordof Hosts. I am also going.

22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek theLordof Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead for theLord’s favor.”

23 TheLordof Hosts says this: “In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you,for we have heard that God is with you.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/8-7aecf1353e4c49009ac8a756a35e789d.mp3?version_id=72—

Judgment of Zion’s Enemies

1 An Oracle

The word of theLord

is against the land of Hadrach,

and Damascusis its resting place —

for the eyes of men

and all the tribes of Israel

are on theLord—

2 and also against Hamath,which borders it,

as well as Tyreand Sidon,

though they are very shrewd.

3 Tyre has built herself a fortress;

she has heaped up silver like dust

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4 Listen! The Lord will impoverish her

and cast her wealth into the sea;

she herself will be consumed by fire.

5 Ashkelon will see it and be afraid;

Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain,

as will Ekron, for her hope will fail.

There will cease to be a king in Gaza,

and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.

6 A mongrel people will live in Ashdod,

and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.

7 I will remove the blood from their mouths

and the detestable things

from between their teeth.

Then they too will become a remnant for our God;

they will become like a clan in Judah

and Ekron like the Jebusites.

8 I will set up camp at My house against an army,

against those who march back and forth,

and no oppressor will march against them again,

for now I have seen with My own eyes.

The Coming of Zion’s King

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!

Look, your King is coming to you;

He is righteous and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the horse from Jerusalem.

The bow of war will be removed,

and He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion will extend from sea to sea,

from the Euphrates River

to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you,

because of the blood of your covenant,

I will release your prisoners

from the waterless cistern.

12 Return to a stronghold,

you prisoners who have hope;

today I declare that I will restore double to you.

13 For I will bend Judah as My bow;

I will fill that bow with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece.

I will make you like a warrior’s sword.

14 Then theLordwill appear over them,

and His arrow will fly like lightning.

The LordGodwill sound the trumpet

and advance with the southern storms.

15 TheLordof Hosts will defend them.

They will consume and conquer with slingstones;

they will drink and be rowdy as if with wine.

They will be as full as the sprinkling basin,

like those at the corners of the altar.

16 TheLordtheir God will save them on that day

as the flock of His people;

for they are like jewels in a crown,

sparkling over His land.

17 How lovely and beautiful they will be!

Grain will make the young men flourish,

and new wine, the young women.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/9-75e79d73b9d8417b8b216dd116bf9817.mp3?version_id=72—

The Lord Restores His People

1 Ask theLordfor rain

in the season of spring rain.

TheLordmakes the rain clouds,

and He will give them showers of rain

and crops in the field for everyone.

2 For the idols speak falsehood,

and the divinerssee illusions;

they relate empty dreams

and offer empty comfort.

Therefore the people wander like sheep;

they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.

3 My anger burns against the shepherds,

so I will punish the leaders.

For theLordof Hosts has tended His flock,

the house of Judah;

He will make them like His majestic steed in battle.

4 The cornerstonewill come from Judah.

The tent pegwill come from them

and also the battle bowand everyruler.

Together

5 they will be like warriors in battle

trampling down the mud of the streets.

They will fight because theLordis with them,

and they will put horsemen to shame.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah

and deliver the house of Joseph.

I will restorethem

because I have compassion on them,

and they will be

as though I had never rejected them.

For I am Yahweh their God,

and I will answer them.

7 Ephraimwill be like a warrior,

and their hearts will be glad as if with wine.

Their children will see it and be glad;

their hearts will rejoice in Yahweh.

8 I will whistleand gather them

because I have redeemedthem;

they will be as numerous as they once were.

9 Though I sowthem among the nations,

they will rememberMe in the distant lands;

they and their children will live and return.

10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt

and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to the land of Gilead

and to Lebanon,

but it will not be enough for them.

11 Yahwehwill pass through the sea of distress

and strike the waves of the sea;

all the depths of the Nile will dry up.

The pride of Assyria will be brought down,

and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end.

12 I will strengthenthem in Yahweh,

and they will marchin His name —

this is Yahweh’s declaration.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/ZEC/10-d196275f93f5c7d58f6eb6c33c545572.mp3?version_id=72—