Zechariah 6
1 And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.
I looked up again, and [in the vision] I saw four chariots coming toward me. [They were coming] between two mountains [that were made] of bronze.
2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
The first chariot [was pulled by] red horses, the second chariot [was pulled by] black horses,
3 the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.
the third chariot [was pulled by] white horses, and the fourth chariot [was pulled by] spotted gray horses. They were all very strong horses.
4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”
I asked the angel who had been speaking to me, “Sir, what do those chariots mean?”
5 And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
The angel replied, “They have come from standing in the presence of the Lord who controls/rules the entire earth. They will go across the sky in four directions.
6 The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
The chariot [pulled by] black horses will go north, the [one pulled by] white horses will go west, the one [pulled by] spotted gray horses will go south.”
7 As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
When those powerful horses left, their [chariot-drivers] were eager to go throughout the world. [As they were leaving, ] the angel said to them, “Go throughout the world [and see what is happening]!” So that is what they did.
8 Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.”
Then the angel called to me [and said], “Look/Listen, the [drivers of the] chariots that have gone north will do what the Spirit [of Yahweh wants them to do] there.”
9 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,
Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.
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.
He said, “Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will be bringing some silver and gold from the people who were (exiled in/forced to go to) Babylon. As soon as they arrive, go to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.
11 Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.
Take [some of that] silver and gold from them and make a crown. Then put it on the head of Jehozadak’s son Joshua, the Supreme Priest.
12 And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.
Tell him that [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, say that the man who is called the Branch will come. He will leave the place where he is now, and he will [supervise those who] build my temple.
13 Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’
He is the one who [will tell those who] will build my temple [what to do]. He will wear royal clothing and he will sit on his throne and rule. There will also be a priest [sitting] next to his throne, and the two of them will work together harmoniously.
14 The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah.
The crown must be [kept] in my temple to remind people of what Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah [did for them].
15 Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
People who are [living] far away will come and [help to] build my temple. When that happens, the people will know that [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, have sent you to them. [That will happen] if they faithfully obey me, Yahweh, your/their God.”
