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Zechariah 1

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the Lord spoke to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet: The Lord was deeply angry with your fathers. So say to them: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Turn back to me, says the Lord Almighty, and I will turn back to you, says the Lord Almighty. Don't be like your fathers

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Come back to me

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the Lord spoke to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet: The Lord was deeply angry with your fathers. So say to them: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Turn back to me, says the Lord Almighty, and I will turn back to you, says the Lord Almighty. Don't be like your fathers, who the former prophets called out to, saying, This is what the Lord Almighty says: turn now from your evil ways and your evil doings. But they wouldn't hear, and they wouldn't listen to me, says the Lord. Your fathers — where are they? And the prophets — do they live forever? But my words and my rules, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn't they catch up with your fathers? And they turned and said, As the Lord Almighty meant to deal with us, for our ways and for our doings, so he has dealt with us.

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah son of Iddo: The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. So tell them: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Come back to me, says the Lord Almighty, and I'll come back to you, says the Lord Almighty. Don't be like your fathers, who the earlier prophets called out to: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Turn back now from your wicked ways and from your wicked doings. But they wouldn't hear or pay attention to me, says the Lord. Your fathers — where are they? And the prophets — do they live forever? But my words and my rules that I ordered my servants the prophets — didn't they catch up with your fathers? And they turned back and said: The way the Lord Almighty planned to do to us, according to our ways and according to our doings, that's what he's done with us.

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

1

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the Lord spoke to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet:

Plain English

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah son of Iddo:

King James Version, 1611

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

2

The Lord was deeply angry with your fathers.

Plain English

The Lord has been very angry with your fathers.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

3

So say to them: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Turn back to me, says the Lord Almighty, and I will turn back to you, says the Lord Almighty.

Plain English

So tell them: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Come back to me, says the Lord Almighty, and I'll come back to you, says the Lord Almighty.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

4

Don't be like your fathers, who the former prophets called out to, saying, This is what the Lord Almighty says: turn now from your evil ways and your evil doings. But they wouldn't hear, and they wouldn't listen to me, says the Lord.

Plain English

Don't be like your fathers, who the earlier prophets called out to: This is what the Lord Almighty says. Turn back now from your wicked ways and from your wicked doings. But they wouldn't hear or pay attention to me, says the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

5

Your fathers — where are they? And the prophets — do they live forever?

King James Version, 1611

Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

6

But my words and my rules, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn't they catch up with your fathers? And they turned and said, As the Lord Almighty meant to deal with us, for our ways and for our doings, so he has dealt with us.

Plain English

But my words and my rules that I ordered my servants the prophets — didn't they catch up with your fathers? And they turned back and said: The way the Lord Almighty planned to do to us, according to our ways and according to our doings, that's what he's done with us.

King James Version, 1611

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

The man among the myrtle trees

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the Lord spoke to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet: I looked in the night, and there was a man riding on a red horse, standing among the myrtle trees down in the hollow. And behind him were red horses, speckled and white. Then I said, What are these, my lord? And the angel who talked with me said, I will show you what these are. And the man standing among the myrtle trees answered, These are the ones the Lord has sent to range through the earth. And they answered the angel of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees and said, We have ranged through the earth, and look — the whole earth sits still and quiet. Then the angel of the Lord said, Lord Almighty, how long will you go on withholding mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that you have been angry with these seventy years? And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me, with good words and comforting words. So the angel who talked with me said, Cry out and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very angry with the nations that sit at ease. I was only a little angry, and they made the trouble worse. So this is what the Lord says: I have come back to Jerusalem with mercy. My house will be built in it, says the Lord Almighty, and the line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. My cities will again overflow with good, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah son of Iddo: I saw at night, and there was a man riding on a red horse standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow. And behind him were red horses, speckled and white. Then I said: What are these, my lord? And the angel who talked with me said to me: I'll show you what these are. And the man standing among the myrtle trees answered: These are the ones the Lord has sent to go up and down through the earth. And they answered the angel of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees: We've gone up and down through the earth, and look — the whole earth sits still and quiet. Then the angel of the Lord answered: Lord Almighty, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the towns of Judah, that you've been angry with these seventy years? And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with good words, comforting words. So the angel who talked with me said to me: Call out and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I'm jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I'm very angry with the nations that are at ease. Because I was only a little angry, and they helped it along for the worse. So this is what the Lord says: I've come back to Jerusalem with mercies. My house will be built in it, says the Lord Almighty, and a line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. Call out again and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. My towns will spread out with good things again. And the Lord will comfort Zion again and choose Jerusalem again.

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

7

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the Lord spoke to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet:

Plain English

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah son of Iddo:

King James Version, 1611

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

8

I looked in the night, and there was a man riding on a red horse, standing among the myrtle trees down in the hollow. And behind him were red horses, speckled and white.

Plain English

I saw at night, and there was a man riding on a red horse standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow. And behind him were red horses, speckled and white.

King James Version, 1611

I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

9

Then I said, What are these, my lord? And the angel who talked with me said, I will show you what these are.

Plain English

Then I said: What are these, my lord? And the angel who talked with me said to me: I'll show you what these are.

King James Version, 1611

Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.

10

And the man standing among the myrtle trees answered, These are the ones the Lord has sent to range through the earth.

Plain English

And the man standing among the myrtle trees answered: These are the ones the Lord has sent to go up and down through the earth.

King James Version, 1611

And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

11

And they answered the angel of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees and said, We have ranged through the earth, and look — the whole earth sits still and quiet.

Plain English

And they answered the angel of the Lord standing among the myrtle trees: We've gone up and down through the earth, and look — the whole earth sits still and quiet.

King James Version, 1611

And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

12

Then the angel of the Lord said, Lord Almighty, how long will you go on withholding mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that you have been angry with these seventy years?

Plain English

Then the angel of the Lord answered: Lord Almighty, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the towns of Judah, that you've been angry with these seventy years?

King James Version, 1611

Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

13

And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me, with good words and comforting words.

Plain English

And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with good words, comforting words.

King James Version, 1611

And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.

14

So the angel who talked with me said, Cry out and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

Plain English

So the angel who talked with me said to me: Call out and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I'm jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

King James Version, 1611

So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

15

And I am very angry with the nations that sit at ease. I was only a little angry, and they made the trouble worse.

Plain English

And I'm very angry with the nations that are at ease. Because I was only a little angry, and they helped it along for the worse.

King James Version, 1611

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

16

So this is what the Lord says: I have come back to Jerusalem with mercy. My house will be built in it, says the Lord Almighty, and the line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Plain English

So this is what the Lord says: I've come back to Jerusalem with mercies. My house will be built in it, says the Lord Almighty, and a line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

17

Cry out again and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. My cities will again overflow with good, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.

Plain English

Call out again and say: This is what the Lord Almighty says. My towns will spread out with good things again. And the Lord will comfort Zion again and choose Jerusalem again.

King James Version, 1611

Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

The four horns

Then I looked up and saw, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. And the Lord showed me four smiths. Then I said, What have these come to do? And he said, Those are the horns that scattered Judah so no man could lift up his head. And these have come to frighten them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles that lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who talked with me: What are these? And he answered me: These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. And the Lord showed me four craftsmen. Then I said: What are these coming to do? And he spoke and said: These are the horns that scattered Judah, so no man lifted his head. But these have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations that lifted their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

18

Then I looked up and saw, and there were four horns.

Plain English

Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and there were four horns.

King James Version, 1611

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

19

And I said to the angel who talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.

Plain English

And I said to the angel who talked with me: What are these? And he answered me: These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.

King James Version, 1611

And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

20

And the Lord showed me four smiths.

Plain English

And the Lord showed me four craftsmen.

King James Version, 1611

And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

21

Then I said, What have these come to do? And he said, Those are the horns that scattered Judah so no man could lift up his head. And these have come to frighten them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles that lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Plain English

Then I said: What are these coming to do? And he spoke and said: These are the horns that scattered Judah, so no man lifted his head. But these have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations that lifted their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

King James Version, 1611

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.