Zechariah, 6

1. Again I raised my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were of bronze.

1. Again I raised my eyes, and this is what I saw: four chariots coming out between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze.

2. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses,

2. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot had black horses,

3. the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot spotted horses--all of them strong horses.

3. the third chariot had white horses and the fourth chariot had vigorous, piebald horses.

4. I asked the angel who spoke with me, "What are these, my lord?"

4. I asked the angel who was talking to me, 'What are these, my lord?'

5. The angel said to me in reply, "These are the four winds of the heavens, which are coming forth after being reviewed by the LORD of all the earth."

5. The angel replied, 'They are the four winds of heaven now leaving, after attending the Lord of the whole world.

6. The chariot with the black horses was turning toward the land of the north, the red and the white horses went after them, and the spotted ones went toward the land of the south.

6. The black horses are leaving for the land of the north; the white are following them, and the piebald are leaving for the land of the south.'

7. As these strong horses emerged, eager to set about patrolling the earth, he said, "Go, patrol the earth!" Then, as they patrolled the earth,

7. They came out vigorously, eager to patrol the world. He said to them, 'Go and patrol the world.' And they patrolled the world.

8. he called out to me and said, "See, they that go forth to the land of the north will make my spirit rest in the land of the north."

8. He called to me and said, 'Look, the ones going to the land of the north brought my spirit to rest on the land of the north.'

9. This word of the LORD then came to me:

9. Then the word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,

10. Take from the returned captives Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah; and go the same day to the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah (these had come from Babylon).

10. 'Collect silver and gold from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, then (you yourself go the same day) go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, who has arrived from Babylon.

11. Silver and gold you shall take, and make a crown; place it on the head of (Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest) Zerubbabel.

11. Then, taking the silver and gold, make a crown and place it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.

12. And say to him: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Shoot, and where he is he shall sprout, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.

12. And say this to him, "Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Here is a man whose name is Branch; where he is, there will be a branching out (and he will rebuild Yahweh's sanctuary).

13. Yes, he shall build the temple of the LORD, and taking up the royal insignia, he shall sit as ruler upon his throne. The priest shall be put at his right hand, and between the two of them there shall be friendly understanding.

13. Yes, he is the one who will rebuild Yahweh's sanctuary; he will wear the royal insignia and sit on his throne and govern, with a priest on his right. Perfect peace will reign between these two.

14. The crown itself shall be a memorial offering in the temple of the LORD in favor of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the son of Zephaniah.

14. And the crown will serve Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and the son of Zephaniah as a memorial of favour in Yahweh's sanctuary.

15. And they who are from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And if you heed carefully the voice of the LORD your God. . . .

15. And those now far away will come and work on the building of Yahweh's sanctuary." 'Then you will know that Yahweh Sabaoth has sent me to you. It will happen if you diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God.'