22 September - Zechariah 8-14

Jude Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:09 am

My soul doth magnify my YAH, and my spirit hath rejoiced in EL my Saviour; For HE that is mighty hath done to me great things; and Holy is HIS Name. Now unto HIM who is ever present in my helpless estate; who is able to keep me from falling and to present me faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy, unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise EL our Saviour be honour and glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and for ever Halleluyah!

ZECHARIAH 8

1And the word of יהוה of hosts came, saying,

2“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘I shall be jealous for Tsiyon with great jealousy, with great wrath I shall be jealous for her.’

3“Thus said יהוה, ‘I shall return to Tsiyon, and I shall dwell in the midst of Yerushalayima. And Yerushalayim shall be called: City of the Truth, and the Mountain of יהוה of hosts, the Set-apart Mountain.’

4“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘Again old men and old women shall dwell in the streets of Yerushalayim, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age,

5and the streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’

6“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘If it is marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in My eyes?’ declares יהוה of hosts.

7“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘See, I am saving My people from the land of the sunrise and from the land of the sunset.

8‘And I shall bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim. And they shall be My people, and I shall be their Elohim, in truth and in righteousness.’

9“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words, from the mouth of the prophets, of the day the foundation was laid for the House of יהוה of hosts, the Hĕḵal that was to be rebuilt.

10‘For before these days there was not a wage for a man, nor a hire for beast, and there was no peace for him who went out or came in, because of his enemies, and I set all men one against another.

11‘But now I am not as in the former days to the remnant of this people,’ declares יהוה of hosts.

12‘Because of the sowing of peace the vine does give its fruit, the ground does give her increase, and the heavens do give their dew. And I shall cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these.

13‘And it shall be, as you were a curse among the gentiles, O house of Yehuḏah and house of Yisra’ĕl, so I shall save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, let your hands be strong.’

14“For thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘As I purposed to do evil to you when your fathers provoked Me,’ declares יהוה of hosts, ‘and I did not relent,

15so again in these days I have purposed to do good to Yerushalayim and to the house of Yehuḏah. Do not fear!

16‘These are the words you should do: speak the truth to one another, judge with truth and right-ruling for peace in your gates.

17‘And do not plot evil in your heart against another, and do not love a false oath. For all these I hate,’ declares יהוה.”

18And the word of יהוה of hosts came to me, saying,

19“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth months, are to be joy and gladness, and pleasant appointed times for the house of Yehuḏah – and they shall love the truth and the peace.’

20“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘Peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities,

21and the inhabitants of the one go to another, saying, “Let us earnestly go and pray before יהוה, and seek יהוה of hosts. I myself am going.”

22‘And many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek יהוה of hosts in Yerushalayim, and to pray before יהוה.’

23“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all languages of the nations take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the edge of the garment of a man, a Yehuḏitea, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.” ’ ”

ZECHARIAH 9

1The message of the word of יהוה against the land of Ḥaḏraḵ, and Damascus its resting place – when the eye of man and all the tribes of Yisra’ĕl are on יהוה –

2and Ḥamath also borders on it, Tsor and Tsiḏon, though they are very wise.

3For Tsor built herself a tower, heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like the mud of the streets.

4See, יהוה shall dispossess her, and He shall destroy her power in the sea, and she shall be consumed by fire.

5Ashqelon sees it and fears, Azzah too, writhing in anguish, and Eqron, for her expectation has dried up. And the sovereign shall perish from Azzah, and Ashqelon shall not be inhabited.

6“And a half-breed shall settle in Ashdoḏ. So I shall cut off the pride of the Philistines,

7and shall take away his blood from his mouth, and the abominations from between his teeth. And he shall remain, even he, to our Elohim, and he shall be like a leader in Yehuḏah, and Eqron like a Yeḇusite.

8And I shall encamp around My house, against an army, against him who passes by and him who returns, so that no oppressor passes through them again, for now I have seen with My eyes.

9“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Tsiyon! Shout, O daughter of Yerushalayim! See, your Sovereign is coming to you, He is righteous and endowed with deliverance, humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkeya.

10“And I shall cut off the chariot from Ephrayim and the horse from Yerushalayim. And the battle bow shall be cut off. And He shall speak peace to the nations, and His rule is from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11“Also you, because of the blood of your covenant, I shall send your prisoners out of the pit.

12“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of the expectation. Even today I declare that I return double to you.

13“For I shall bend Yehuḏah for Me, I shall fill the bow with Ephrayim, and I shall stir up your sons, O Tsiyon, against your sons, O Greece, and I shall make you like the sword of a mighty man.”

14And יהוה shall appear for them, and His arrow go forth like lightning, and the Master יהוה sound the ram’s horn. And He shall go with whirlwinds from the south,

15יהוה of hosts shall shield them. And they shall devour and trample on sling stones. And they shall drink, roar as if with wine, and they shall be filled like basins, like the corners of the altar.

16And יהוה their Elohim shall save them in that day, as the flock of His people, for the stones of a diadem, sparkling over His land.

17For what goodness is His, and what comeliness is His. Grain make the young men thrive, and new wine the maidens!

ZECHARIAH 10

1Ask יהוה for rain in the time of the latter rain, יהוה who makes storm clouds. And He gives them showers of rain, the plants in the field to everyone.

2For the household idols spoke emptiness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain. Therefore they have wandered about like sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no shepherda.

3“My wrath burns against the shepherds, and I lay a charge against the leaders. For יהוה of hosts shall visit His flock, the house of Yehuḏah, and make them like His splendid horse in battle.

4“From him comes the corner-stone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler, together.

5“And they shall be like mighty men, who trample down the mud of the streets in the battle. And they shall fight because יהוה is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

6“And I shall make the house of Yehuḏah mighty, and save the house of Yosĕph. And I shall bring them back, because I have compassion on them. And they shall be as though I had not pushed them aside. For I am יהוה their Elohim, and I answer them.

7“And Ephrayim shall be as a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. And their children shall see and rejoice, their heart exulting in יהוה.

8“I shall whistle for them and gather them, for I shall ransom them. And they shall increase as they once increased.

9“Though I sow them among peoples, they shall remember Me in places far away. And they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return.

10“And I shall bring them back from the land of Mitsrayim, and gather them from Ashshur, and bring them into the land of Gil‛aḏ and Leḇanon, until no more room is found for them.

11“And He shall pass through the sea of distress, and strike the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the River shall dry up. And the pride of Ashshur shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Mitsrayim be taken away.

12“And I shall make them mighty in יהוה, so that they walk up and down in His Name,” declares יהוה.

ZECHARIAH 11

1Open your doors, O Leḇanon, and let fire devour your cedars.

2Howl, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, because the mighty are ravaged. Howl, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has come down.

3Listen! The howling of shepherds, for their splendour is ravaged. Listen! The roaring of lions, for the pride of the Yardĕn is ravaged.

4Thus said יהוה my Elohim, “Feed the flock for slaughter,

5whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt, and their sellers say, ‘Blessed be יהוה, for I have become rich.’ And their own shepherds do not spare them.

6“For I shall no longer spare the inhabitants of the land,” declares יהוה. “But see, I am delivering up mankind, each one into his neighbour’s hand and into the hand of his sovereign. And they shall crush the earth, but I do not deliver from their hand.”

7So I shepherded the flock meant for slaughter, the truly poor of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs, the one I called Pleasantness, and the other I called Unity, and I shepherded the flock.

8Then I sent off the three shepherds in one month, for my being despised them, and their being also loathed me.

9So I said, “I am not shepherding you. Let the dying die, and the straying stray, and let those who are left eat each other’s flesh.”

10And I took my staff, Pleasantness, and cut it in two, to break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

11So it was broken on that day. And the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of יהוה.

12And I said to them, “If it is good in your eyes, give me my wages. And if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

13And יהוה said to me, “Throw it to the potter,” the splendid price at which I was valued by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the House of יהוה for the potter.

14Then I cut in two my other staff, Unity, to break the brotherhood between Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl.

15And יהוה said to me, “Take again the implements of a foolish shepherd.

16“For look, I am raising up a shepherd in the land who does not visit those straying, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he does eat the flesh of the fat and tear off their hooves.

17“Woe to the worthless shepherd forsaking the flock! Let a sword be upon his arm and upon his right eye! His arm shall wither and his right eye shall be dimmed.”

ZECHARIAH 12

1The message of the word of יהוה against Yisra’ĕl. יהוה, stretching out the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth, and forming the spirit of man within him, declares,

2“See, I am making Yerushalayim a cup of reeling to all the people all around, and also against Yehuḏah it is in the siege against Yerushalayim.

3“And in that day it shall be that I make Yerushalayim a very heavy stone for all peoples – all lifting it are severely injured. And all the nations of the earth shall be gathered against it.

4“In that day,” declares יהוה, “I smite every horse with bewilderment and its rider with madness. And on the house of Yehuḏah I open My eyes, but every horse of the peoples I smite with blindness.

5“And the leaders of Yehuḏah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Yerushalayim are a strength to me, through יהוה of hosts, their Elohim.’

6“In that day I make the leaders of Yehuḏah like a fire pot among trees, and like a torch of fire in the sheaves. And they shall consume all the peoples all around, on the right and on the left. And Yerushalayim shall dwell again in her own place, in Yerushalayim.

7“And יהוה shall save the tents of Yehuḏah first, so that the comeliness of the house of Dawiḏ and the comeliness of the inhabitants of Yerushalayim would not become greater than that of Yehuḏah.

8“In that day יהוה shall shield the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. And the feeble among them in that day shall be like Dawiḏ, and the house of Dawiḏ like Elohim, like the Messenger of יהוה before them!

9“And it shall be in that day that I seek to destroy all the gentiles that come against Yerushalayim.

10“And I shall pour on the house of Dawiḏ and on the inhabitants of Yerushalayim a spirit of favour and prayers. And they shall look on Me whom they pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son. And they shall be in bitterness over Him as a bitterness over the first-born.

11“In that day the mourning in Yerushalayim is going to be great, like the mourning at Haḏaḏ Rimmon in the valley of Meg̅iddo.

12“And the land shall mourn, every clan by itself: the clan of the house of Dawiḏ by itself, and their women by themselves; the clan of the house of Nathan by itself, and their women by themselves;

13the clan of the house of Lĕwi by itself, and their women by themselves; the clan of Shim‛i by itself, and their women by themselves;

14all the rest of the clans, every clan by itself, and their women by themselves.

ZECHARIAH 13

1“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of Dawiḏ and for the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, for sin and for uncleanness.

2“And it shall be in that day,” declares יהוה of hosts, “that I cut off the names of the idols from the eartha, and they shall be remembered no more, and I shall also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the earth.

3“And it shall be, when one prophesies again, then his father and mother who brought him forth shall say to him, ‘You shall not to live, because you have spoken falsehood in the Name of יהוה.’ And his father and mother who brought him forth shall pierce him through when he prophesies.

4“And it shall be in that day that the prophets shall be ashamed, everyone of his vision when he prophesies, and not put a hairy robe on in order to deceive,

5but shall say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.’

6“And one shall say to him, ‘What are these wounds in your hands?’ And he shall say, ‘Because I was wounded at home by those who love me.’

7“O sword, awake against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” declares יהוה of hosts. “Smite the Shepherd, and let the sheep be scattered. But I shall turn My hand upon the little ones.

8And it shall be throughout all the soil,” declares יהוה, “that two thirds therein are cut off and die, and one third is left therein.

9“And I shall bring the third into fire, and refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My Namea, and I shall answer them. I shall say, ‘This is My people,’ while they say, ‘יהוה is my Elohim.’ ”

ZECHARIAH 14

1See, a day shall come for יהוה, and your spoil shall be divided in your midst.

2And I shall gather all the gentiles to battle against Yerushalayima. And the city shall be taken, the houses plundered, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into exile, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3And יהוה shall go forth, and He shall fight against those gentiles, as He fights in the day of battle.

4And in that day His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, which faces Yerushalayim on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.

5And you shall flee to the valley of My mountain – for the valley of the mountains reaches to Atsal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziyah sovereign of Yehuḏah. And יהוה my Elohim shall come – all the set-apart ones with You.

6And in that day it shall be: there is no light, it is dark.

7And it shall be one day which is known to יהוה, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

8And in that day it shall be that living waters flow from Yerushalayima, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea, in summer as well as in winter.

9And יהוה shall be Sovereign over all the eartha. In that day there shall be one יהוה, and His Name one.

10All the land shall be changed into a desert plain from Geḇa to Rimmon south of Yerushalayim, and she shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Binyamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Ḥanan’ĕl to the winepresses of the sovereign.

11And they shall dwell in her, and there shall be no more utter destructiona, but Yerushalayim shall be safely inhabited.

12And this is the plague with which יהוה plagues all the people who fought against Yerushalayim: their flesh shall decay while they stand on their feet, and their eyes decay in their sockets, and their tongues decay in their mouths.

13And it shall be in that day that a great confusion from יהוה is among them, and everyone of them shall seize the hand of his neighbour, and his hand rise up against his neighbour’s hand.

14And Yehuḏah shall fight at Yerushalayim as well. And the wealth of all the gentiles round about shall be gathered together: gold, and silver, and garments in great quantities.

15So also is the plague on the horse and the mule, on the camel and the donkey, and on all the cattle that are in those camps – as this plague.

16And it shall be that all who are left from all the gentiles which came up against Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths.

17And it shall be, that if anyone of the clans of the earth does not come up to Yerushalayim to bow himself to the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts, on them there is to be no rain.

18And if the clan of Mitsrayim does not come up and enter in, then there is no rain. On them is the plague with which יהוה plagues the gentiles who do not come up to observe the Festival of Booths.

19This is the punishment of Mitsrayim and the punishment of all the gentiles that do not come up to observe the Festival of Booths.

20In that day “SET-APART TO יהוה” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. And the pots in the House of יהוה shall be like the bowls before the altar.

21And every pot in Yerushalayim and Yehuḏah shall be set-apart to יהוה of hosts. And all those who slaughter shall come and take them and cook in them. And there shall no longer be a merchant in the House of יהוה of hosts, in that day.