Zechariah 6 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

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

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

5 (C) Then he explained, “These are the four winds[b] 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,[c] 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[d] wants them to do there.”[e]

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.[f] 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.[g] 12-13 (D) 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,[h] 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,[i] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah.”[j]

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. 6.3 spotted gray: Or “strong.”
  2. 6.5 winds: Or “spirits.” The Hebrew word may mean either.
  3. 6.6 goes toward the west: Or “follows behind.”
  4. 6.8 Lord's Spirit: Or “Lord.”
  5. 6.8 will do … to do there: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  6. 6.10,11 a crown: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “some crowns.”
  7. 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.”
  8. 6.12,13 stand beside his throne: Or “sit on a throne.”
  9. 6.14 Heldai: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Helem.”
  10. 6.14 Josiah: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Hen.”

Cross references

  1. 6.2 a : Rev 6.4; b Rev 6.5.
  2. 6.3 : Rev 6.2.
  3. 6.5 : Rev 7.1,2.
  4. 6.12 : Jr 23.5; 33.15; Zec 3.8.

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