< 撒迦利亞書 1 >

1 大流士王第二年八月,耶和華的話臨到易多的孫子、比利家的兒子先知撒迦利亞,說:
[I am] Zechariah, a prophet, the son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo. When Darius [had been the emperor of Persia] for almost two years, during November [of that year], Yahweh gave me this message:
2 「耶和華曾向你們列祖大大發怒。
“I was very angry with your ancestors.
3 所以你要對以色列人說,萬軍之耶和華如此說:你們要轉向我,我就轉向你們。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
So tell this to the people: [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, say, ‘Return to me, and [if you do that], I will [help] you again.
4 不要效法你們列祖。從前的先知呼叫他們說,萬軍之耶和華如此說:『你們要回頭離開你們的惡道惡行。』他們卻不聽,也不順從我。這是耶和華說的。
Do not be like your ancestors. [Other] prophets, who have now died, [continually] proclaimed to your ancestors that they should stop doing the evil things that they were continually doing. But they refused to pay attention to what I said.
5 你們的列祖在哪裏呢?那些先知能永遠存活嗎?
Your ancestors [have died and are now in their graves] [RHQ]. And the prophets did not [RHQ] live forever, [either].
6 只是我的言語和律例,就是所吩咐我僕人眾先知的,豈不臨到你們列祖嗎?他們就回頭,說:『萬軍之耶和華定意按我們的行動作為向我們怎樣行,他已照樣行了。』」
But I punished [IDM] [the people for disobeying] the commands and the decrees which I commanded my servants the prophets [to tell to the people]. Then they (repented/turned away from their evil behavior) and said, ‘The Commander of the armies of angels has done to us what we deserved for our evil behavior, just like he said that he would do.’”
7 大流士第二年十一月,就是細罷特月二十四日,耶和華的話臨到易多的孫子、比利家的兒子先知撒迦利亞,說:
[Three months later], on February 15, Yahweh gave [another] message to me.
8 「我夜間觀看,見一人騎着紅馬,站在窪地番石榴樹中間。在他身後又有紅馬、黃馬,和白馬。」
During the night [I had a vision. In the vision] I saw an [angel] who was on a red horse. He was in a narrow valley among some myrtle trees. Behind him were [angels on] red, brown, and white horses.
9 我對與我說話的天使說:「主啊,這是甚麼意思?」他說:「我要指示你這是甚麼意思。」
I asked the angel who had been talking to me, “Sir, who are those [angels on the horses]?” He replied, “I will show you who they are.”
10 那站在番石榴樹中間的人說:「這是奉耶和華差遣在遍地走來走去的。」
Then the [angel] who had been under the myrtle trees explained. [He said, ] “They are the [angels] whom Yahweh sent [to (patrol/see what is happening in)] the [entire] world.”
11 那些騎馬的對站在番石榴樹中間耶和華的使者說:「我們已在遍地走來走去,見全地都安息平靜。」
Then those angels reported to the angel who was [there] among the myrtle trees, “We have traveled throughout the world, and we have found out that [the army of the emperor of Persia has conquered nations] throughout the world, [and that] those nations are now (helpless/unable to resist his army).”
12 於是,耶和華的使者說:「萬軍之耶和華啊,你惱恨耶路撒冷和猶大的城邑已經七十年,你不施憐憫要到幾時呢?」
Then the angel asked, “Commander of the armies of angels, how long will you continue to not be merciful to Jerusalem and the [other] towns in Judah? You have been angry with them for 70 years!”
13 耶和華就用美善的安慰話回答那與我說話的天使。
[So] Yahweh spoke kindly to the angel who had talked to me, saying things that comforted/encouraged him.
14 與我說話的天使對我說:「你要宣告說,萬軍之耶和華如此說:我為耶路撒冷為錫安,心裏極其火熱。
Then the angel who had been talking with me said to me, “Proclaim this [to the people of Jerusalem]: The Commander of the armies of angels says that he is very concerned about [the people who live on] Zion [Hill] and [in the other parts of] Jerusalem.
15 我甚惱怒那安逸的列國,因我從前稍微惱怒我民,他們就加害過分。
But he is very angry with the nations that are [proud and feel] safe. He was only a little bit angry [with the people of Judah], but [he is very angry with the surrounding nations because] they caused [the people of Judah to experience] complete disaster.
16 所以耶和華如此說:現今我回到耶路撒冷,仍施憐憫,我的殿必重建在其中,準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
Therefore, this is what he says: ‘I will again be merciful to [the people of] Jerusalem, and they will rebuild my temple. Men will measure [all the land in] the city [before they start rebuilding the houses].’
17 你要再宣告說,萬軍之耶和華如此說:我的城邑必再豐盛發達。耶和華必再安慰錫安,揀選耶路撒冷。」
The Commander of the armies of angels [also] said this: ‘Tell the people that [the people in] my towns [in Judah] will soon be very prosperous again, and I will encourage [the people of] Jerusalem, and their city will again be my chosen [city].’”
18 我舉目觀看,見有四角。
Then I looked up, and I saw in front of me four [animal] horns.
19 我就問與我說話的天使說:「這是甚麼意思?」他回答說:「這是打散猶大、以色列,和耶路撒冷的角。」
I asked the angel who had been speaking to me, “What are those [horns]?” He replied, “Those horns [represent the armies that] forced [the people of] Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah and Israel to go [to other countries].”
20 耶和華又指四個匠人給我看。
Then Yahweh showed me four (craftsmen/men who make things from metal).
21 我說:「他們來做甚麼呢?」他說:「這是打散猶大的角,使人不敢抬頭;但這些匠人來威嚇列國,打掉他們的角,就是舉起打散猶大地的角。」
I asked, “What are those men coming to do?” He replied, “[The armies represented by] those horns caused [the people of] Judah to be scattered, with the result that they suffered greatly. But the craftsmen have come to cause those who attacked [IDM] Judah to be terrified and crushed.”

< 撒迦利亞書 1 >