Zechariah 1

Horsemen Among the Myrtles, Patrolling the Earth

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Return to Me, Says the Lord Almighty

1:1In the eighth month of the second year under Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, Berechiah’s son, son of Addo, the prophet, saying:

1:2“The Lord was angry with your fathers with great anger.

1:3You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord Almighty: Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord.

1:4Do not become like your fathers, against whom the former prophets brought charges, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: Turn away from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they did not attend to hearing Me, says the Lord.

1:5Your fathers—where are they? And the prophets—surely they will not live forever?

1:6Yet receive My words and My ordinances, whatever I command in My Spirit to My servants the prophets, who overtook your fathers.” And they answered and said, “As the Lord Almighty has arrayed Himself to act according to your ways and practices, so He acted toward you.”

The First Vision: The Man Among the Myrtles

1:7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month—which is the month Sabat—in the second year under Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, Berechiah’s son, son of Addo, the prophet, saying:

1:8I saw in the night: look, a man mounted on a flame-red horse! He stood between the two shaded mountains, and behind him were flame-red, gray, dappled and white horses.

1:9I said, “What are these, lord?” The angel speaking within me said to me, “I will show you what these are.”

1:10The man standing between the mountains answered and said to me, “These are the ones the Lord sent out to travel around the earth.”

1:11They answered the angel of the Lord standing between the mountains, “We have traveled around all the earth, and look, all the earth is inhabited and quiet.”

1:12The angel of the Lord answered, “Lord Almighty, how long will You refuse mercy to Jerusalem and Judah’s cities, which You have overlooked this seventieth year?”

1:13The Lord Almighty answered the angel speaking within me with good words and comforting speeches.

I Will Return to Jerusalem in Compassion

1:14The angel speaking within me said to me, “Cry out: Thus says the Lord Almighty: I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy,

1:15and I am angry with great anger at the nations joining in assault, because I was a little angry, but they joined in attacking to bring evils.

1:16Therefore thus says the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem in compassion, and My house will be rebuilt in her, says the Lord Almighty, and a measure will again be extended over Jerusalem.”

1:17The angel speaking within me said to me, “Cry out: Thus says the Lord Almighty: Cities will again overflow with good things; the Lord will again have mercy on Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.