1 I n the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying,

2 J ehovah hath been very wroth with your fathers.

“The Lord was very angry with your fathers.

3 A nd thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “ Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.

4 B e ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings; but they did not hearken nor attend unto me, saith Jehovah.

“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “ Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord.

5 Y our fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 B ut my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? And they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘ As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’” Patrol of the Earth

7 U pon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:

8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the low valley; and behind him were red, bay, and white horses.

I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him.

9 A nd I said, My lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these are.

Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.”

10 A nd the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, These are they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.”

11 A nd they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth sitteth still and is at rest.

So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet.”

12 A nd the angel of Jehovah answered and said, Jehovah of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these seventy years?

Then the angel of the Lord said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?”

13 A nd Jehovah answered the angel that talked with me good words, comforting words.

The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.

14 A nd the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy,

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “ Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

15 a nd I am wroth exceedingly with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little wroth, and they helped forward the affliction.

But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”

16 T herefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and the line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’

17 C ry further, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity, and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”

18 A nd I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns.

19 A nd I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he said to me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

20 A nd Jehovah shewed me four craftsmen.

Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen.

21 A nd I said, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, Those are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these are come to affright them, to cast out the horns of the nations, which lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.

I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”