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.

[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 He was angry Yahweh towards ancestors your anger.

“I was very angry with your ancestors.

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 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 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.

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

Your ancestors [have died and are now in their graves] [RHQ]. And the prophets did not [RHQ] live forever, [either].

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 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 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.

[Three months later], on February 15, Yahweh gave [another] message to me.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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

[So] Yahweh spoke kindly to the angel who had talked to me, saying things that comforted/encouraged him.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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

Then I looked up, and I saw in front of me 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.

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 And he showed me Yahweh four craftsmen.

Then Yahweh showed me four (craftsmen/men who make things from metal).

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.

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.”