Zechariah 6

EasyEnglish Bible

Four chariots

6 Again I looked up and I saw four chariots! They came out from between two mountains and the mountains were mountains of shining metal! ² The first chariot had red horses and the second chariot had black horses. ³ The third chariot had white horses and the fourth chariot had grey horses. All the horses were strong. ⁴ Then I spoke to the angel that talked to me. I asked him, ‘What are these chariots, my lord?’

⁵ The angel answered me, ‘These are the four spirits of heaven. They have come from the Lord of the whole world. ⁶ The chariot with the black horses goes towards the north country. The chariot with the white horses goes after them. The chariot with the grey horses goes towards the south country.’

⁷ When the strong horses came out, they were in a hurry to leave. The angel said, ‘Go through all the earth.’ So the horses went through all the earth.

⁸ Then the Lord told me, ‘The chariot that goes to the north country has caused my Spirit to rest in the north country. I am now no longer angry about the north country.’

A crown for Joshua

⁹ The Lord spoke to me.

¹⁰ ‘Three men have arrived from Babylon,’ he said. ‘Their names are Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah. Take the gold that they have brought with them. On the same day, take the gold to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah.

¹¹ Take the gold and other valuable metal and make a crown. Put it on the head of Joshua the most important priest. He is the son of Jehozadak. ¹² Say to Joshua, “The Lord Almighty says, ‘I have chosen a man. His name is the Branch. He will be a great man and he will build the house of the Lord.

¹³ It is he who will build the house of the Lord. He will sit on his special high seat and he will rule all the people. He will be a priest on the seat of a king. This one man will be priest and king.’ ” ¹⁴ They will put the crown in the house of the Lord. This is to remember Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah. This is because they brought the gold from Babylon.

¹⁵ People will come a long way and they will help to build the house of the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. All this will happen if you completely obey the Lord your God.’