| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1In the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Darius, this message from the LORD came to Berechiah's son Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo the prophet: | 1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: " |
| 2"The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. | 2The LORD was extremely angry with your ancestors. |
| 3So tell them, 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Return to me," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and I will return to you. | 3So tell the people: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Return to Me"--this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts--"and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 4Don't be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed: 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "It's time to turn from your evil lifestyles and from your evil actions," 'but they would neither listen nor pay attention to me,'" declares the LORD.' | 4Do not be like your ancestors; the earlier prophets proclaimed to them: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not listen or pay attention to Me"--this is the LORD's declaration. " |
| 5"Your ancestors—where are they? And the prophets—do they live forever? | 5Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever? |
| 6But my words and my statutes that I gave as commands to my servants the prophets—did they not overwhelm your ancestors? And they returned to me: 'The LORD of the Heavenly Armies acted toward us just as he planned to do—in keeping with our lifestyles and in keeping with our actions.'" | 6But didn't My words and My statutes that I commanded My servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? They repented and said: As the LORD of Hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so He has dealt with us." |
| 7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month Shebat) in the second year of the reign of Darius, this message from the LORD came to Berechiah's son Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo the prophet: | 7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: |
| 8"I stared into the night, and there was a man mounted on a red horse! The horse was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him there were red, brown, and white horses." | 8I 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. |
| 9Then I asked, "Who are these, sir?" The messenger who was talking to me answered, "I will tell you who these are." | 9I asked, "What are these, my lord?" The angel who was talking to me replied, "I will show you what they are." |
| 10The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, "These are the ones whom the LORD sent out to wander throughout the earth." | 10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth." |
| 11Then they reported to the angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle trees, "We have wandered throughout the earth—and look!—the entire earth is at rest. Everything is quiet and peaceful." | 11They reported to the Angel of the LORD standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet." |
| 12And the angel of the LORD replied, "LORD of the Heavenly Armies, how long will it be until you show mercy to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, with whom you have been angry for these past seventy years?" | 12Then the Angel of the LORD responded, "How long, LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that You have been angry with these 70 years?" |
| 13So the LORD answered the angel who was speaking to me with kind and comforting words. | 13The LORD replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me. |
| 14Then the angel who was speaking to me told me, "Announce this: 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "I have a deep concern for Jerusalem, a great concern for Zion. | 14So the angel who was speaking with me said, "Proclaim: The LORD of Hosts says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. |
| 15I am deeply angry with the nations who are complacent, with whom I was only a little displeased—but they made things worse!" | 15I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made it worse. |
| 16Therefore this is what the LORD says: "I have returned to Jerusalem with compassionate intentions. My Temple will be rebuilt there," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem."'" | 16Therefore, this is what the LORD says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it"--this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts--"and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem." |
| 17"Also announce the following: 'This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "My cities will again overflow with prosperity. The LORD will comfort Zion once more and will choose Jerusalem again."'" | 17Proclaim further: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem." |
| 18 Then I looked up and saw four horns. | 18Then I looked up and saw four horns. |
| 19I asked the angel who was talking to me, "What are those?" So he answered me, "Those are the forces that have dispersed Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." | 19So 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." |
| 20Then the LORD showed me four artisans. | 20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. |
| 21Then I asked, "What have they come to do?" He answered, "Those horns that dispersed Judah—so that no one could lift up his head—those artisans are coming to disrupt the power of nations, tearing them down now that they've come to power and dispersed the land of Judah." | 21I 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." |
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