< Zechariah 6 >

1 And once again I lifted mine eyes, and looked, and lo! four chariots, coming forward from between two mountains, —now, the mountains, were mountains of copper.
Again I looked up, and saw four chariots come from between two mountains. The mountains were mountains of bronze.
2 In the first chariot, were red horses, —and, in the second chariot, black horses;
The first chariot had red horses. The second chariot had black horses,
3 and, in the third chariot, white horses, —and, in the fourth chariot, horses spotted, deep red.
the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses.
4 Then began I, and said, unto the messenger who was speaking with me, —What are these, my lord?
Then I said to the messenger who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 And the messenger answered, and said unto me, —These, are the four winds of the heavens, coming forward after each hath presented itself near the Lord of all the earth.
The messenger answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out after standing before the Lord of all the earth.
6 They in whose chariot are the black horses, are going forth into the land of the North, and, the white, have gone forth after them, —and, the spotted, have gone forth into the land of the South;
The black horses are going toward the north country and the white toward the west and the dappled toward the south country.”
7 and, the deep red, have come forward and sought to go their way, that they might journey to and fro in the land, so he said, Go your way, journey to and fro in the land, —and they journeyed to and fro in the land.
The strong horses came out, and were impatient to patrol the earth. So he said, “Go, patrol the earth,” and they did so.
8 Then made he outcry beside me, and spake unto me, saying, —See, these who are going forth into the land of the North, have settled my spirit in the land of the North.
Then he cried out to me, “The horses that went to the north country will quiet my spirit in the north country.”
9 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me, saying:
Now this message of the Lord came to me:
10 Take of them of the exile, of Heldai, and of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, —then shalt, thou thyself, enter, on that day, yea thou shalt enter the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, [with them] who have come in out of Babylon;
Take the gifts from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah who have come from Babylon and go at once to Josiah the son of Zephaniah.
11 yea thou shalt take silver and gold, and make a crown, —and set [it] upon the head of Jehoshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest;
Take their silver and gold and make a crown and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.
12 then shalt thou speak unto him, saying, Thus, speaketh Yahweh of hosts, saying, —Lo! a man! Bud, is his name, and, out of his own place, shall he bud forth, and shall build the temple of Yahweh;
Tell him: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, the man whose name is the Branch. He will branch out from his place and rebuild the temple of the Lord.
13 Yea, he, shall build the temple of Yahweh, and, he, shall bear the honour, and shall sit and rule upon his throne, —and shall become a priest upon his throne, and, the counsel of peace, shall be between the two of them.
He will rebuild the temple and will sit and rule upon his throne, receiving the honor due to a king. A priest will stand by his throne and they will work together in peace and harmony.
14 But, the crown, shall belong to Heldai and to Tobiah and to Jedaiah, and to Hen son of Zephaniah, —for a memorial in the temple of Yahweh.
The crown will be a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Heldai and Tobijah and Jedaiah, and Josiah the son of Zephaniah.
15 And, they who are afar off, shall come in and shall build at the temple of Yahweh, so shall yea know that, Yahweh of hosts, hath sent me unto you, —and it shall come to pass if ye will, indeed hearken, unto the voice of Yahweh your God.
People from far away will come and build in 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.”

< Zechariah 6 >