Zechariah 1-2
International Children’s Bible
The Lord Calls His People Back
1 It was the eighth month of the second year Darius was king of Persia. The Lord spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Iddo. The Lord said:
2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3 So tell the people: This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘Return to me, and I will return to you.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors. In the past the prophets spoke to them. They said: This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘Stop your evil ways and evil actions.’ But they wouldn’t listen or pay attention to me, says the Lord. 5 Your ancestors are dead. And those prophets didn’t live forever. 6 I commanded my words and laws to my servants the prophets. They preached to your ancestors, who returned to me. They said, ‘The Lord of heaven’s armies did as he said he would. He punished us for the way we lived and for what we did.’”
The Vision of the Horses
7 It was on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is called Shebat. It was Darius’s second year as king. The Lord spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Iddo.
8 During the night I had a vision. I saw a man riding a red horse. He was standing among some myrtle trees in the ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.
9 I asked, “What are these, sir?”
The angel who was talking with me answered. He said, “I’ll show you what they are.”
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained. He said, “They are the ones the Lord sent through all the earth.”
11 Then they spoke to the Lord’s angel. He was standing among the myrtle trees. They said, “We have gone through all the earth. Everything is calm and quiet.”
12 Then the Lord’s angel asked, “Lord of heaven’s armies, how long before you show mercy to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You have been angry with them for 70 years now.” 13 Then the Lord answered the angel who was talking with me. His words were comforting and good.
14 Then the angel told me, “Announce this: This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘I have a strong love for Jerusalem. 15 And I am very angry with the nations that feel so safe. I was only a little angry, but they made things worse for my people.’
16 “So this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy. My Temple will be rebuilt,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies. ‘And the measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.’
17 “Also announce: This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘My towns will be rich again. I will comfort Jerusalem again. I will still choose Jerusalem.’”
The Vision of the Horns
18 Then I looked up and saw four animal horns. 19 I asked the angel who was talking with me, “What are these?”
He said, “These are the strong nations that scattered the people of Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are they coming to do?”
He answered, “They have come to scare and throw down the horns. Those horns scattered the people of Judah. No one could even lift up his head. The horns stand for the strong nations that attacked the people of Judah and scattered them.”
The Vision of the Measuring Line
2 Then I looked up. And I saw a man holding a line for measuring things. 2 I asked him, “Where are you going?”
He said to me, “I am going to measure Jerusalem. I will see how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was talking with me left. And another angel came out to meet him. 4 The second angel said to him, “Run and tell that young man this: ‘Jerusalem will become a city without walls because there will be so many people and cattle in it. 5 I will be a wall of fire around it,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will be the glory within it.’
6 “Hurry! Run away from Babylon. I have scattered you in all directions,” says the Lord.
7 “Hurry, people of Jerusalem! Escape from Babylon.” 8 This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: “Whoever hurts you hurts what is precious to me.”
So the Lord will honor me. And he will send me to speak against those nations who scattered you. 9 “I will raise my hand against them. Their slaves will rob them.”
Then you will know that the Lord of heaven’s armies sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Jerusalem. I am coming, and I will live among you,” says the Lord. 11 “At that time people from many nations will come to the Lord. And they will become my people. I will live among you. And you will know that the Lord of heaven’s armies has sent me to you. 12 Judah will be the Lord’s special part of the holy land. And Jerusalem will be his chosen city again. 13 Be silent, everyone. The Lord is coming out of the holy place where he lives.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
