Zechariah 1

1 In the month eighth in year two of Darius it came [the] word of Yahweh to Zechariah [the] son of Berekiah [the] son of Iddo the prophet saying.

The Lord sent a message to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah, son of Iddo, in the eighth month of the second year of king Darius' reign, saying:

2 He was angry Yahweh towards ancestors your anger.

The Lord was very angry with your forefathers.

3 And you will say to them thus he says Yahweh of hosts return to me [the] utterance of Yahweh of hosts so I may return to you he says Yahweh of hosts.

So tell the people this: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.

4 May not you be like ancestors your whom they proclaimed to them the prophets former saying thus he says Yahweh of hosts turn back please from ways your evil (and deeds your *Q(k)*) evil and not they listened and not they paid attention to me [the] utterance of Yahweh.

You must not be like your forefathers. They were told by previous prophets: Give up your evil ways, and the evil things you do. But they would not listen or pay any attention to me, says the Lord.

5 Ancestors your where? [are] they and the prophets ¿ to forever do they live.

Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, did they live forever?

6 Nevertheless - words my and statutes my which I commanded servants my the prophets ¿ not did they overtake ancestors your and they repented and they said just as he planned Yahweh of hosts to do to us according to ways our and according to deeds our so he has done with us.

But didn't all my instructions and warnings that I ordered my servants the prophets to communicate, didn't all that I said happen to your forefathers? So they repented and said, “What the Lord Almighty planned to do to us was what we deserved because of our ways and our actions. He did what he said he would.”

7 On day twenty and four of one [plus] ten month it [was] [the] month of Shebat in year two of Darius it came [the] word of Yahweh to Zechariah [the] son of Berekiah [the] son of Iddo the prophet saying.

The Lord sent a message to Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah, son of Iddo, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat) of the second year of king Darius' reign:

8 I saw - the night and there! a man [was] riding on a horse red and he [was] standing between the myrtle trees which [were] in the hollow and [were] behind him horses red sorrel and white.

During the night I saw a man sitting on a red horse that stood among some myrtle trees in a narrow valley. Behind him were red, brown, and white horses with their riders.

9 And I said what? [are] these O lord my and he said to me the angel who was speaking with me I I will show you what? they [are] these.

I asked him, “My lord, what are these?” The angel I was talking to replied, “I will show you.”

10 And he answered the man who was standing between (the myrtle trees *LB(ah)*) and he said these [are those] whom he has sent Yahweh to go about on the earth.

The man who was there among the myrtle trees said, “These are the ones the Lord has sent out to patrol the earth.”

11 And they answered [the] angel of Yahweh who was standing between the myrtle trees and they said we have gone about on the earth and there! all the earth [is] dwelling and [is] undisturbed.

The riders reported to the angel of the Lord who was among the myrtle trees, “We have been patrolling the earth and saw that the whole earth has been pacified.”

12 And he answered [the] angel of Yahweh and he said O Yahweh of hosts until when? you not will you have compassion on Jerusalem and [the] cities of Judah which you have been indignant this seventy year[s].

Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will it be before you have mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah which you have been angry with for the past seventy years?”

13 And he answered Yahweh the angel who was speaking with me words good words comfort.

So the Lord replied to the angel I was talking to with kind and comforting words.

14 And he said to me the angel who was speaking with me proclaim saying thus he says Yahweh of hosts I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion jealousy great.

Then the angel I was talking with told me, This is what you are to announce. The Lord Almighty says this: I am jealously protective of Jerusalem and Mount Zion,

15 And anger great I [am] angry towards the nations at ease which I I was angry a little and they they have helped for evil.

and I am extremely angry with the arrogant nations who think they are secure. I was only a little angry with my people, but they made the punishment far worse.

16 Therefore thus he says Yahweh I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion house my it will be rebuilt in it [the] utterance of Yahweh of hosts (and a measuring-line *Q(K)*) it will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Therefore this is what the Lord says: I have returned to be merciful to Jerusalem. My Temple shall be rebuilt there, as well as the city, declares the Lord Almighty.

17 Again - proclaim saying thus he says Yahweh of hosts again they will overflow cities my from good and he will comfort Yahweh again Zion and he will choose again Jerusalem.

Announce this as well, says the Lord Almighty: Prosperity will flood out of my cities. I the Lord will comfort Zion, and Jerusalem will be my chosen city.

18 And I lifted up eyes my and I saw and there! four horns.

Then I looked and saw four animal horns.

19 And I said to the angel who was speaking with me what? [are] these and he said to me these [are] the horns which they scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem.

“What are these?” I asked the angel I was talking to. “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem,” he replied.

20 And he showed me Yahweh four craftsmen.

Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen.

21 And I said what? [are] these coming to do and he said saying these [are] the horns which they scattered Judah according to [the] mouth of a man not he lifted up head his and they have come these [craftsmen] to terrify them to throw down [the] horns of the nations which lifted up a horn against [the] land of Judah to scatter it.

“What are these men coming to do?” I asked. The angel replied, “The four horns—these nations—scattered Judah, humbling the people so that they could not lift up their heads. These craftsmen have to come to terrify these nations, and to destroy them—those who used their power against the land of Judah, scattering the people.”