Category: Zechariah

A Call to Repentance

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying,

2 “The Lordwas very angry with your fathers.

3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lordof hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lordof hosts.

4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord.

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lordof hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

Patrol of the Earth

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:

8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him.

9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the 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 the Lordhas sent to patrol the earth.”

11 So they answered the angel of the Lordwho was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet.”

12 Then the angel of the Lordsaid, “O Lordof hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?”

13 The Lordanswered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

15 But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”

16 Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.” ’

17 Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lordwill again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

18 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold,there werefour horns.

19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lordshowed me four craftsmen.

21 I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but thesecraftsmenhave come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted uptheirhorns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/1-abe97d8cbac70b2d435d117e7930ab3f.mp3?version_id=100—

God’s Favor to Zion

1 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold,there wasa man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.”

3 And behold, the 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 young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it.

5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

6 “Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord.

7 “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.”

8 For thus says the Lordof hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lordof hosts has sent Me.

10 Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord.

11 “Many nations will join themselves to the Lordin that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lordof hosts has sent Me to you.

12 The Lordwill possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/2-8d5d906d983a76e353c874cf522b5767.mp3?version_id=100—

Joshua, the High Priest

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 The Lordsaid to Satan, “The Lordrebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lordwho has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.

4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”

5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lordwas standing by.

6 And the angel of the Lordadmonished Joshua, saying,

7 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standinghere.

The Branch

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 symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.

9 For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10 In that day,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor tositunderhisvine and underhisfig tree.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/3-7fd0501e90165fee559f30589294c4e9.mp3?version_id=100—

The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees

1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.

2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;

3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”

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

5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lordto Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lordof hosts.

7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabelyou will becomea plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

8 Also the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finishit.Then you will know that the Lordof hosts has sent me to you.

10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these arethe eyes of the Lordwhich range to and fro throughout the earth.”

11 Then I said to him, “What are these 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 branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the goldenoilfrom themselves?”

13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/4-0e8593eb63230ad8506002aa9b033c71.mp3?version_id=100—

The Flying Scroll

1 Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold,there wasa flying scroll.

2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears will be purged away according to the writing on the other side.

4 I will make it go forth,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones.”

5 Then 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 I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the 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 Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.

9 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.

10 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 temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/5-5ed53145ad10f4c08d3164aa22dceadf.mp3?version_id=100—

The Four Chariots

1 Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountainswerebronze mountains.

2 With the first chariotwerered horses, with the second chariot black horses,

3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses.

4 Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 The angel replied to me, “These are the 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 north country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country.

7 When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth.” And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they 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 appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”

9 The word of the Lordalso came to me, saying,

10 “Takean offeringfrom the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Take silver and gold, make anornatecrown and setiton the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

12 Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord.

13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.” ’

14 Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lordto Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will know that the Lordof hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the Lordyour God.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/6-d1ac3f6aca20a489f691c1a857c8a8b5.mp3?version_id=100—

Hearts like Flint

1 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah on the fourthdayof the ninth month,which isChislev.

2 Nowthe town ofBethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the Lord,

3 speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the Lordof hosts, and to the prophets, saying, “Shall I weep in the fifth month and abstain, as I have done these many years?”

4 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came to me, saying,

5 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?

6 When you eat and drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves?

7 Are notthesethe words which the Lordproclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?’ ”

8 Then the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah saying,

9 “Thus has the Lordof hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;

10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.

12 They made their heartslikeflint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lordof hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the Lordof hosts.

13 And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the Lordof hosts;

14 “but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/7-bb4234515f49f5218f57b027bebe6e33.mp3?version_id=100—

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

1 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came, saying,

2 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’

3 Thus says the Lord, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lordof hostswill be calledthe Holy Mountain.’

4 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in thestreets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.

5 And thestreets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’

6 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lordof hosts.

7 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;

8 and I will bring thembackand they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.’

9 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets,thosewhospokein the day that the foundation of the house of the Lordof hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built.

10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies, and I set all men one against another.

11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lordof hosts.

12 ‘Forthere will bepeace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all thesethings.

13 It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’

14 “For thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lordof hosts, ‘and I have not relented,

15 so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear!

16 These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in yourgates.

17 Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the Lord.”

18 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came to me, saying,

19 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenthmonthswill become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘It willyetbethat peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities.

21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lordof hosts; I will also go.”

22 So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lordof hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.’

23 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/8-df4c4fbaceba7e6bcbea4c3bdcacdfe1.mp3?version_id=100—

Prophecies against Neighboring Nations

1 The burden of the word of the Lordis against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),

2 And Hamath also, which borders on it;

Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

3 For Tyre built herself a fortress

And piled up silver like dust,

And gold like the mire of the streets.

4 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her

And cast her wealth into the sea;

And she will be consumed with fire.

5 Ashkelon will seeitand be afraid.

Gaza too will writhe in great pain;

Also Ekron, for her expectation has been confounded.

Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza,

And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

6 And a mongrel race will dwell in Ashdod,

And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7 And I will remove their blood from their mouth

And their detestable things from between their teeth.

Then they also will be a remnant for our God,

And be like a clan in Judah,

And Ekron like a Jebusite.

8 But I will camp around My house because of an army,

Because of him who passes by and returns;

And no oppressor will pass over them anymore,

For now I have seen with My eyes.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shoutin triumph,O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

He is just and endowed with salvation,

Humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

And the horse from Jerusalem;

And the bow of war will be cut off.

And He will speak peace to the nations;

And His dominion will be from sea to sea,

And from theRiver to the ends of the earth.

Deliverance of Judah and Ephraim

11 As for you also, because of the blood ofMycovenant with you,

I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope;

This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

13 For I will bend Judah as My bow,

I will fill the bow with Ephraim.

And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece;

And I will make you like a warrior’s sword.

14 Then the Lordwill appear over them,

And His arrow will go forth like lightning;

And the Lord Godwill blow the trumpet,

And will march in the storm winds of the south.

15 The Lordof hosts will defend them.

And they will devour and trample on the sling stones;

And they will drinkandbe boisterous as with wine;

And they will be filled like asacrificialbasin,

Drenchedlike the corners of the altar.

16 And the Lordtheir God will save them in that day

As the flock of His people;

Forthey are asthe stones of a crown,

Sparkling in His land.

17 For what comeliness and beautywill betheirs!

Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/9-3ee1b89dfcf5b9871c73efd4c37be90c.mp3?version_id=100—

God Will Bless Judah and Ephraim

1 Ask rain from the Lordat the time of the spring rain—

The Lordwho makes the storm clouds;

And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field toeachman.

2 For the teraphim speak iniquity,

And the diviners see lying visions

And tell false dreams;

They comfort in vain.

Thereforethe peoplewander like sheep,

They are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds,

And I will punish the male goats;

For the Lordof hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah,

And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.

4 From them will come the cornerstone,

From them the tent peg,

From them the bow of battle,

From them every ruler,allof them together.

5 They will be as mighty men,

Treading downthe enemyin the mire of the streets in battle;

And they will fight, for the Lordwill bewith them;

And the riders on horses will be put to shame.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah,

And I will save the house of Joseph,

And I will bring them back,

Because I have had compassion on them;

And they will be as though I had not rejected them,

For I am the Lordtheir God and I will answer them.

7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man,

And their heart will be glad as iffromwine;

Indeed, their children will seeitand be glad,

Their heart will rejoice in the Lord.

8 I will whistle for them to gather them together,

For I have redeemed them;

And they will be as numerous as they were before.

9 When I scatter them among the peoples,

They will remember Me in far countries,

And they with their children will live and come back.

10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt

And gather them from Assyria;

And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon

Until noroomcan be found for them.

11 And they will pass through the seaofdistress

And He will strike the waves in the sea,

So that all the depths of the Nile will dry up;

And the pride of Assyria will be brought down

And the scepter of Egypt will depart.

12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord,

And in His name they will walk,” declares the Lord.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/80/32k/ZEC/10-de739bab617fcdd7c2399aba5141f8f6.mp3?version_id=100—