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.
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 In the first chariot, were red horses, —and, in the second chariot, black horses;
The first chariot [was pulled by] red horses, the second chariot [was pulled by] black horses,
3 and, in the third chariot, white horses, —and, in the fourth chariot, horses spotted, deep red.
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 Then began I, and said, unto the messenger 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me, saying:
Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.
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;
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 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 [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 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 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 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 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 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 must be [kept] in my temple to remind people of what Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah [did for them].
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 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.”
