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Zechariah 3-6
Contemporary English Version

Fourth Vision: Joshua and Satan

3 (A) I was given another vision. This time Joshua the high priest was standing in front of the Lord's angel. And there was Satan, standing at Joshua's right side, ready to accuse him. 2 (B) But the Lord said, “Satan, you are wrong. Jerusalem is my chosen city, and this man was rescued like a stick from a flaming fire.”

3 Joshua's clothes were filthy. 4 So the angel told some of the people to remove Joshua's filthy clothes. Then he said to Joshua, “This means you are forgiven. Now I will dress you in priestly clothes.”

5 I spoke up and said, “Also put a clean priestly turban on his head.” Then they dressed him in priestly clothes and put the turban on him, while the Lord's angel stood there watching.

6 After this, the angel encouraged Joshua by telling him that the Lord All-Powerful had promised:

7 If you truly obey me, I will put you in charge of my temple, including the courtyard around it, and you will be allowed to speak at any time with the angels standing beside me.[a] 8 (C) Listen carefully, High Priest Joshua and all of you other priests. You are a sign of things to come, because I am going to bring my servant, the Chosen King.[b]

9 Joshua, I have placed in front of you a stone with seven sides.[c] I will engrave something on that stone, and in a single day I will forgive this guilty country. 10 (D) Then each of you will live at peace and entertain your friends in your own vineyard and under your own fig trees.

Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Olive Trees

4 The angel who explained the visions woke me from what seemed like sleep. 2 Then he asked, “What do you see?”

“A solid gold lampstand with an oil container above it,” I answered. “On the stand are seven lamps, each with seven flames. 3 (E) One olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container. 4 But, sir, what do these mean?”

5 Then he asked, “Don't you know?”

“No sir,” I replied.

6 (F) So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel:[d]

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. 7 Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple's most important stone and shout, “God has been very kind.”[e]

8 The Lord spoke to me again and said:

9 Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple, and he will complete it. Then everyone will know that you were sent by me, the Lord All-Powerful. 10 (G) Those who have made fun of this day of small beginnings will celebrate when they see Zerubbabel holding this important stone.[f]

Those seven lamps represent my eyes—the eyes of the Lord—and they see everything on this earth.

11 (H) Then I asked the angel, “What about the olive trees on each side of the lampstand? What do they represent? 12 And what is the meaning of the two branches from which golden olive oil[g] flows through the two gold pipes?”

13 “Don't you know?” he asked.

“No sir, I don't,” was my answer.

14 Then he told me, “These branches are the two chosen leaders[h] who stand beside the Lord of all the earth.”

Sixth Vision: A Flying Scroll

5 When I looked the next time, I saw a flying scroll,[i] 2 and the angel asked, “What do you see?”

“A flying scroll,” I answered. “About nine meters long and four and a half meters wide.”

3 Then he told me:

This scroll puts a curse on everyone in the land who steals or tells lies. The writing on one side tells about the destruction of those who steal, while the writing on the other side tells about the destruction of those who lie.

4 The Lord All-Powerful has said, “I am sending this scroll into the house of everyone who is a robber or tells lies in my name, and it will remain there until every piece of wood and stone in that house crumbles.”

Seventh Vision: A Woman in a Basket

5 Now the angel who was there to explain the visions came over and said, “Look up and tell me what you see coming.”

6 “I don't know what it is,” was my reply.

“It's a big basket,” he said. “And it shows what everyone in the land has in mind.”[j]

7 The lead cover of the basket was opened, and in the basket was a woman. 8 “This woman represents evil,” the angel explained. Then he threw her back into the basket and slammed the heavy cover down tight.

9 Right after this I saw two women coming through the sky with wings outstretched like a stork in the wind. Suddenly they lifted the basket into the air, 10 and I asked the angel, “Where are they taking the basket?”

11 “To Babylonia,”[k] he answered, “where they will build a house for the basket and set it down inside.”

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

6 Finally, I looked up and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. 2 (I) The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second by black horses; 3 (J) the third chariot was pulled by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray[l] horses.

4 “Sir,” I asked the angel. “What do these stand for?”

5 (K) Then he explained, “These are the four winds[m] of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west,[n] and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south.”

7 The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, “Start patrolling the earth.”

When they had gone on their way, 8 he shouted to me, “Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the Lord's Spirit[o] wants them to do there.”[p]

The Chosen Leader

9 The Lord said to me:

10-11 Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown.[q] Then go with them to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah and put the crown on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.[r] 12-13 (L) Tell him that I, the Lord All-Powerful, say, “Someone will reach out from here like a branch and build a temple for me. I will name him ‘Branch,’ and he will rule with royal honors. A priest will stand beside his throne,[s] and the two of them will be good friends. 14 This crown will be kept in my temple as a reminder and will be taken care of by Heldai,[t] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah.”[u]

15 When people from distant lands come and help build the temple of the Lord All-Powerful, you will know that the Lord is the one who sent me. And this will happen, if you truly obey the Lord your God.

Footnotes

  1. 3.7 with the angels … me: Or “with me.” The angels are members of God's Council, who stand beside the throne of God in heaven and are allowed to speak with him and for him.
  2. 3.8 Chosen King: The Hebrew text has “Sprout” or “Branch,” a term used of royalty (see Isaiah 11.1).
  3. 3.9 seven sides: Or “seven eyes.”
  4. 4.6 Zerubbabel: Governor of Judah (see Haggai 1.1).
  5. 4.7 God … kind: Or “What a beautiful stone.”
  6. 4.10 important stone: Or “measuring line (with a stone attached to the end).”
  7. 4.12 golden olive oil: The Hebrew text has “gold,” which possibly refers to the color of the olive oil as it flows through the gold pipe.
  8. 4.14 chosen leaders: The Hebrew text has “people of oil.” In ancient times prophets, priests, and kings had olive oil poured over their heads to show that they had been chosen (see 1 Samuel 10.1; 16.13).
  9. 5.1 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on.
  10. 5.6 what … mind: Hebrew; one ancient translation “the sin of everyone in the land.”
  11. 5.11 Babylonia: The Hebrew text has “Shinar,” an ancient name for Babylonia.
  12. 6.3 spotted gray: Or “strong.”
  13. 6.5 winds: Or “spirits.” The Hebrew word may mean either.
  14. 6.6 goes toward the west: Or “follows behind.”
  15. 6.8 Lord's Spirit: Or “Lord.”
  16. 6.8 will do … to do there: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  17. 6.10,11 a crown: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “some crowns.”
  18. 6.10,11 Heldai … Jehozadak: Or “Go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, where you will find Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. Then put it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.”
  19. 6.12,13 stand beside his throne: Or “sit on a throne.”
  20. 6.14 Heldai: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Helem.”
  21. 6.14 Josiah: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Hen.”
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Zechariah 3-6
New International Version

Clean Garments for the High Priest

3 Then he showed me Joshua(A) the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a](B) standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you,(C) Satan! The Lord, who has chosen(D) Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick(E) snatched from the fire?”(F)

3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,(G) and I will put fine garments(H) on you.”

5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban(I) on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements,(J) then you will govern my house(K) and have charge(L) of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.(M)

8 “‘Listen, High Priest(N) Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic(O) of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.(P) 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!(Q) There are seven eyes[b](R) on that one stone,(S) and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin(T) of this land in a single day.

10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit(U) under your vine and fig tree,(V)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

4 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke(W) me up, like someone awakened from sleep.(X) 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”(Y)

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand(Z) with a bowl at the top and seven lamps(AA) on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees(AB) by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.(AC)

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:(AD) ‘Not(AE) by might nor by power,(AF) but by my Spirit,’(AG) says the Lord Almighty.

7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.(AH) Then he will bring out the capstone(AI) to shouts(AJ) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation(AK) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.(AL) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me(AM) to you.

10 “Who dares despise the day(AN) of small things,(AO) since the seven eyes(AP) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[c] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”(AQ)

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees(AR) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed(AS) to[d] serve the Lord of all the earth.”

The Flying Scroll

5 I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.(AT)

2 He asked me, “What do you see?”(AU)

I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.[e]”

3 And he said to me, “This is the curse(AV) that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief(AW) will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely(AX) will be banished. 4 The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely(AY) by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.(AZ)’”

The Woman in a Basket

5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”

6 I asked, “What is it?”

He replied, “It is a basket.(BA)” And he added, “This is the iniquity[f] of the people throughout the land.”

7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.(BB)

9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork,(BC) and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10 “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

11 He replied, “To the country of Babylonia[g](BD) to build a house(BE) for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”(BF)

Four Chariots

6 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots(BG) coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,(BH) 3 the third white,(BI) and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits[h](BJ) of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.(BK) 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west,[i] and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth.(BL) And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.

8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit[j] rest(BM) in the land of the north.”(BN)

A Crown for Joshua

9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.(BO) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown,(BP) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua(BQ) son of Jozadak.[k](BR) 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,(BS) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.(BT) 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he[l] will be a priest(BU) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crown will be given to Heldai,[m] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen[n] son of Zephaniah as a memorial(BV) in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,(BW) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(BX) This will happen if you diligently obey(BY) the Lord your God.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  2. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
  3. Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line
  4. Zechariah 4:14 Or two who bring oil and
  5. Zechariah 5:2 That is, about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide or about 9 meters long and 4.5 meters wide
  6. Zechariah 5:6 Or appearance
  7. Zechariah 5:11 Hebrew Shinar
  8. Zechariah 6:5 Or winds
  9. Zechariah 6:6 Or horses after them
  10. Zechariah 6:8 Or spirit
  11. Zechariah 6:11 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak
  12. Zechariah 6:13 Or there
  13. Zechariah 6:14 Syriac; Hebrew Helem
  14. Zechariah 6:14 Or and the gracious one, the
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