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◄ Open English Translation ZEC ►
This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.
ZEC - Open English Translation—Readers’ Version (OET-RV) v0.0.09
ESFM v0.6 ZEC
WORDTABLE OET-LV_OT_word_table.tsv
Zekaryah
(Zechariah)
Zec
ESFM v0.6 ZEC
WORDTABLE OET-LV_OT_word_table.tsv
The parsed Hebrew text used to create this file is Copyright © 2019 by https://hb.
openscriptures.org
Our English glosses are released CC0 by https://Freely-Given.org
ESFM file created 2025-03-18 16:14 by extract_glossed_OSHB_OT_to_ESFM v0.59
USFM file edited by ScriptedBibleEditor v0.33
Zəkaryāh
Introduction
This document, written concerning the prophesied of Zekaryah (Zechariah) concerning Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and of stories concerning the hoped for Messiah and of ending judging. This document consists of two parts: 1.) Chapter 1–8, the prophecy of Zekaryah concerning the revelation him saving/explaining of Yerushalem, the replacement of temple, the cleaning so that become_holy the people of Master God; 2.) Chapter 9–14, the stories concerning the hoped-for Messiah and of ending judging.
It’s believed that this document was written between 520 and 518 B.C.
Main components of this “book”
The warning and hope 1:1-8:23
The punishment of Israel’s enemies 9:1-8
The arrival of prosperity and peace 9:9-14:21
This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.
1 In the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Persian King Dareyavesh (Darius), Yahweh spoke through the prophet Zekaryah (Zechariah, son of Iddo’s son Berekyah) saying,[ref] 2 “Yahweh was very angry with your ancestors, 3 so tell this to the people: Army commander Yahweh says that if you all turn back to me, I’ll return to you. 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who’d been told by the prophets that army commander Yahweh wanted them to abandon all their evil practices, but they wouldn’t listen or pay attention. That is Yahweh’s declaration.
5 “So where are you ancestors and the prophets now? Do they live forever? 6 But your ancestors didn’t obey my words and my decrees that I commanded through my servants the prophets, but they eventually repented and said, ‘Army commander Yahweh has done to us just what our ways and actions deserved.’ ”
7 About three months later, Yahweh spoke again through the prophet Zekaryah (Zechariah son of Iddo’s son Berekyah) saying, 8 “I had a vision in the night, and was surprised to see a man riding on a red horse,[ref] and then he was standing among the myrtle trees that are in the valley, and behind him there were red, reddish-brown, and white horses.”[ref] 9 I asked, “What are these things, my master?”
Then that heavenly messenger who talked with me told me, “I’ll show you what those things are.”
10 Then the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “Those are the ones that Yahweh has sent out to roam throughout the world.”
11 They answered Yahweh’s messenger who stood among the myrtle trees, telling him, “We’ve been roaming throughout the world, and see, the whole world sits contentedly and is at peace.”
12 “Army commander Yahweh,” Yahweh’s messenger asked, “how long before you show compassion to Yerushalem and to the cities of Yehudah (Judah), which you’ve been angry with for the past seventy years?”
13 Then that messenger who’d talked with me was answered by Yahweh with kind and comforting words, 14 and that messenger told me, “Call out and say, ‘Army commander Yahweh says this: I’ve been very jealous for Yerushalem and for Tsiyyon (Zion). 15 I’m very angry with the countries that are at ease—I was only a little angry with them, but they made the disaster worse. 16 Therefore Yahweh says: I will show mercy Yerushalem again. My residence will be built within her, and the measuring line will be stretched out over her. That’s what army commander Yahweh declares.
17 “Again, call out and say, ‘Army commander Yahweh says this: My cities will once again overflow with goodness, and I will again comfort Tsiyyon and choose Yerushalem.’ ”
18 Then I looked up and wow, I saw four horns. 19 I asked the messenger who’d talked with me, “What are those?”
“Those are the horns that have scattered Yehudah, Israel, and Yerushalem.” he answered.
20 Then Yahweh showed me four craftsmen 21 and I asked, “What are those people coming to do?”
“Those horns are the nations that scattered Yehudah so that everyone went into hiding,” he answered, “But the blacksmiths have come to terrify the horns—to amputate the horns of the nations that attacked Yehudah, scattering the people.”
1:4 OSHB variant note: ו/מעלילי/כם: (x-qere) ’וּ/מַֽעֲלְלֵי/כֶ֖ם’: lemma_c/4611 n_1.0 morph_HC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp id_38fsu וּ/מַֽעֲלְלֵי/כֶ֖ם
1:4 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
1:10 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
1:16 OSHB variant note: ו/קוה: (x-qere) ’וְ/קָ֥ו’: lemma_c/6957 b morph_HC/Ncmsa id_38wA4 וְ/קָ֥ו
2:1 Note: KJB: Zech.1.18
2:2 Note: KJB: Zech.1.19
2:2 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
2:3 Note: KJB: Zech.1.20
2:4 Note: KJB: Zech.1.21
2:5 Note: KJB: Zech.2.1
2:6 Note: KJB: Zech.2.2
2:7 Note: KJB: Zech.2.3
2:8 Note: KJB: Zech.2.4
2:8 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.
2:8 OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS. In doing this we agree with L against BHS.
2:9 Note: KJB: Zech.2.5
2:10 Note: KJB: Zech.2.6
2:11 Note: KJB: Zech.2.7
2:12 Note: KJB: Zech.2.8
2:13 Note: KJB: Zech.2.9
2:13 OSHB exegesis note: WLC has this word divided as עֲלֵ/יהֶ֔ם
2:14 Note: KJB: Zech.2.10
2:15 Note: KJB: Zech.2.11
2:16 Note: KJB: Zech.2.12
2:17 Note: KJB: Zech.2.13
3:4 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.
4:2 OSHB variant note: ו/יאמר: (x-qere) ’וָ/אֹמַ֡ר’: lemma_c/559 n_0.2.1.2 morph_HC/Vqw1cs id_38CVM וָ/אֹמַ֡ר
4:2 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
6:7 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
6:12 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.
6:12 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.
6:12 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.
8:14 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
8:23 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.
9:11 OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHQ.
10:2 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
11:2 OSHB variant note: ה/בצור: (x-qere) ’הַ/בָּצִֽיר’: lemma_d/1219 n_0 morph_HTd/Ncmsa id_38ckH הַ/בָּצִֽיר
14:2 OSHB variant note: תשגלנה: (x-qere) ’תִּשָּׁכַ֑בְנָה’: lemma_7901 n_1 morph_HVNi3fp id_38Uz3 תִּשָּׁכַ֑בְנָה
14:3 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.
14:3 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.
14:3 OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.
14:4 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
14:6 OSHB variant note: יקפאו/ן: (x-qere) ’וְ/קִפָּאֽוֹן’: lemma_c/7087 b n_0 morph_HC/Ncmsa id_38eb2 וְ/קִפָּאֽוֹן
2 Then I looked up, and wow, I saw a man holding a measuring line[fn] 2 and I asked him, “Where are you going?”
“To measure Yerushalem,” he replied, “and to determine its width and length.”
3 Then to my surprise, the messenger who’d talked with me went away and another messenger went out to meet him 4 and told him, “Run and speak to that young man, saying: Yerushalem won’t need city walls because there’ll be so many people and animals within it. 5 Yahweh declares that he’ll become a wall of fire around it and will become the splendour in the middle of it.
6 Yahweh declares: Get up and get moving. Flee from that land in the north, because I had scattered you into the four winds. 7 Now run you people who live in Babylon—escape to Tsiyyon (Zion). 8 Army commander Yahweh said that, after he honoured and sent me against the nations that plundered you—
because whoever touches you, is messing with God’s favourite.
9 He said, “I myself will punish them, and they’ll be looted by their own slaves.”
When you see that, then you’ll know that army commander Yahweh sent me.
10 Yahweh declares: “Sing and be glad, daughter of Tsiyyon, because I myself will come and settle among you.”
11 Then powerful nations will join Yahweh at that time, and they will become his people. He will settle among you, and you will know that army commander Yahweh has sent me to you. 12 Then Yahweh will inherit Yehudah as his rightful possession in that sacred region, and will once again choose Yerushalem.
13 All people everywhere, be silent before Yahweh, because from his sacred place, he’s been driven into action.
3:1 Joshua and Satan
3 Then Yahweh showed me the high priest Yehoshua (Joshua) standing in front of Yahweh’s messenger, and Satan was standing at his right to accuse him.[ref] 2 But Yahweh told Satan, “May Yahweh rebuke you, Satan—may Yahweh who’s chosen Yerushalem, rebuke you. Isn’t he energetic like a burning stick taken out of the fire?”[ref]
3 Now Yehoshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood in front of the messenger 4 who told those standing in front of him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Yehoshua, “Listen, I’ve taken away the guilt of your disobedience, and I’ll dress you in nice clothes.”
5 “Let them put a clean headband on his head,” I said, so they placed a clean headband on Yehoshua’s head and dressed him with new clothes, while Yahweh’s messenger was standing there watching.
6 Then he told Yehoshua, 7 “Army commander Yahweh says: If you’ll follow my instructions and obey my rules, then you can govern my temple and guard my courtyards, because I’ll allow you to walk among these who’re standing here. 8 Please listen, Yehoshua the high priest, as well as your companions sitting in front of you. Those these men are a sign, because I myself will bring out my servant ‘the branch’.[ref] 9 Now look at the stone that I’ve placed in front of Yehoshua—a single stone with seven faces cut on it. Army commander Yahweh declares that I will engrave an inscription on it, and I will remove the sin from this land in one day. 10 Army commander Yahweh declares that in that day, each man will invite his neighbour to sit under his grapevine or under his fig tree.”[ref]
4 Then the messenger who was talking with me turned and woke me as if waking someone from their sleep. 2 “What do you see?” he asked me.
“Wow,” I said, “I see a lampstand made entirely of gold, with a bowl on top of it. It has seven lamps on the top with a tube feeding each one, 3 and two olive trees by it—one on each side of it.”[ref] 4 Then I asked the messenger who was talking with me, “What are those, my master?”
5 “Don’t you know what those things mean?” he asked me.
“No, my master,” I replied.
6 So he told me, “This is Yahweh’s message to Zerubavel: army commander Yahweh says it won’t be my strength or my power, but with my spirit.[ref] 7 What are you, big mountain? Before Zerubavel you will become a plain. Then he will bring out the top stone to shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it.’ ”
8 Then Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, 9 “Zerubavel’s hands have laid the foundation of this temple and his hands will bring it to completion.” Then you will have confirmation that army commander Yahweh has sent me to you. 10 Because who has mocked those who make a small difference? They will rejoice and will see Zerubavel holding a plumb line.
Those seven lamps are Yahweh’s eyes that roam over the whole world.
11 “What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” I asked the messenger.[ref] 12 “And what are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that have golden oil pouring out of them?”
13 Then he answered, “Don’t you know what those are?”
“No, my master,” I replied.
14 Then he said, “Those are the two anointed men[fn] who stand before the master of the whole world.”
5 Then I turned around and looked up, and wow, I saw a flying scroll, 2 and the messenger asked me, “What do you see?”
“I see a flying scroll,” I answered, “that’s nine metres long and half that wide.”
3 Then he told me, “That’s the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land. Every thief will be removed according to what it says on the one side, and everyone who testifies falsely will be removed according to what it says on the other side. 4 Army commander Yahweh declares: I will send it out so it will enter into the house of any thief and into the house of anyone who testified falsely using my name, and it will remain in that house and eat away at its timber and its stones.”
5 Then the messenger who’d been talking with me came over and said to me, “Look up and see what’s coming now.”
And he said, “That’s the measuring bin that’s coming.” Then he continued, “That’s their eye[fn] across the whole land.”
7 Then, wow, a lead covering was lifted off and there was a woman sitting inside the measuring bin. 8 He said, “This woman is ‘wickedness’.” Then he pushed her back inside the measuring bin, then quickly pressed the heavy lead cover back over its opening.
9 Then I looked up again and wow, I saw two women with wings like stork’s wings, flying on the wind towards us, and they lifted the measuring bin up into the sky.
10 “Where are they taking the measuring bin?” I asked the messenger who’d been talking with me.
11 “To build a temple for it in Babylonia,” he replied. “And when it’s ready, it’ll be set on a base there.”
6 Then I turned and looked up and wow, I saw four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains. 2 The first chariot was being pulled by red horses, the second by black horses,[ref] 3 the third by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray horses.[ref]
4 I asked the messenger who had talked with me, “What are those, my master?” 5 “Those are four winds of the heavens that go out from where they were, ahead of the master of the whole world,” he answered.[ref] 6 “The chariot pulled by black horses will go north, the one pulled by white horses will go west, and the one pulled by spotted gray horses will go south.” 7 The strong horses went out and wanted to go and roam over the earth, and he said, “Go and roam over the earth.” and they went to roam over the earth. 8 Then the messenger called out and told me, “Look at the ones that are going out to the north country. They will appease my spirit in the north country.”
9 Then Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, 10 “Take the offering from the exiles that Heldai, Toviyah, and Yedayah are bringing, and go this same day and take it into Yoshiyah’s house (Tsefanyah’s son, who has come from Babylon). 11 Then take the gold and silver, and make a crown and place it on the head of the high priest, Yehoshua (Yehotsadak’s son) 12 and tell him, ‘Army commander Yahweh says:
Look, a man whose name is ‘Branch’ will grow from his place, and he will build Yahweh’s temple.[ref] 13 Yes, he will build Yahweh’s temple, and he will radiate splendour and will sit and rule on his throne. He’ll be a priest on his throne, and peace will emanate from the interaction of both of those roles. 14 Then the crown will be given to Heldai, to Toviyah, to Yedayah, and to Tsefanyah’s son Hen as a memorial in Yahweh’s temple.
15 Then those live far away will come and build Yahweh’s temple, so you will know that army commander Yahweh has sent me to you. All this will happen if you truly listen to the voice of your God Yahweh.’ ”
7 On the 4th of the ninth month (named ‘Kislev’) in the fourth year of the reign of Persian King Dareyavesh (Darius), Yahweh’s message came to Zekaryah (Zechariah).
2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharetser and Regem-Melek and their men to request prayers for Yahweh’s favour. 3 They asked the priests who were at army commander Yahweh’s temple, along with the prophets, “Should I fast in the fifth month to show that I’m mourning, as I’ve been doing for many years?”
4 So army commander Yahweh’s message came to me: 5 “Ask the priests and the people all over the country, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, were you truly fasting for me? 6 When you ate and drank together, weren’t you yourselves just enjoying the food and drink? 7 Weren’t those the same words that Yahweh proclaimed through the former prophets, when you still inhabited Yerushalem and the surrounding cities in prosperity and were settled in the Negev, and the western foothills?’ ”
8 Then Yahweh’s message came to Zekaryah: 9 “Army commander Yahweh says, ‘Judge with true justice, loyal commitment, and mercy. Let everyone do that for their neighbour. 10 Don’t oppress widows or orphans, foreigners or poor people, and none of you should plot any harm against another person, even in your mind.’
11 But they refused to pay attention, turning away stubbornly and blocking their ears so they couldn’t hear. 12 They made their hearts as hard as rock so they couldn’t hear the written law or army commander Yahweh’s contemporary messages. He’d sent those messages to the people by his spirit in earlier times through the words of the prophets, but the people refused to listen, so army commander Yahweh was very angry with them. 13 And so it was that when he called, they didn’t listen. In the same way,” said army commander Yahweh, “they’ll call out to me for help, but I won’t listen. 14 I’ll use a whirlwind to scatter them to other nations that they’ve never been to before. Then the land here will become desolate after they’ve gone because no one will pass through this land or return to it since the people have made their pleasant country into a wasteland.”
8 Then army commander Yahweh’s message came to me, saying: 2 “Army commander Yahweh says: I’m passionate for Zion with dedicated zeal and I am passionate for her with fierce anger. 3 Army commander Yahweh says: I will return to Tsiyyon (Zion) and will live in the middle of Yerushalem, because Yerushalem will be called ‘The city of truth’ and army commander Yahweh’s mountain will be called ‘The sacred mountain’. 4 Army commander Yahweh says:
Old men and old women will appear around Yerushalem’s streets once again,
≈and the people will need staffs in their hands because they’ve grown so old. 5 The city streets will be full of children playing in them.
If something seems impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days,
Yahweh’s declaration is: ‘It doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for me.’ 7 Army command Yahweh says:
Listen, I’m about to rescue my people from the lands to the east and to the west,[fn] 8 and I’ll bring them back. Then they’ll live in the middle of Yerushalem, so they will be my people again and I’ll be their God in truth and in righteousness.
“Let your hands be strong, all you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple—army commander Yahweh’s residence. 10 Because before those days, no crops were gathered in by anyone. Tthere was no profit for either man or beast, and there was no peace from enemies for anyone going or coming. I had caused every person to be against their neighbours. 11 But now it won’t be like it was in times past. Army commander Yahweh declares that I’ll be with the remnant of this people. 12 Because seeds of peace will be sown. The grapevine will produce its fruit and the soil will give its produce. The skies will give their dew, because I’ll give all those things to thos people as an inheritance. 13 House of Yehudah and house of Yisrael, you were made into an example of a curse for the other nations to see. So I will rescue you and you’ll be a blessing. Don’t be afraid—work hard to finish building the temple.
14 Because army commander Yahweh says: Just as I didn’t relent when I’d planned to do harm to you all when your ancestors provoked my anger, 15 so also at this time I’ll plan to do good again to Yerushalem and the house of Yehudah. Don’t be afraid. 16 These are the things that you all must do: Always tell the truth to those around you. Judge with truth, justice, and peace in your community courts.[ref] 17 Yahweh declares: Don’t inwardly plan to do evil things to others around you all, and don’t encourage false testimonies because those are the things I hate.”
18 Then army commander Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, 19 “Army commander Yahweh says this: The fasts of the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, and the tenth month will become times of joy, gladness, and happy festivals for the house of Yehudah. Therefore appreciate and strive for truth and peace.
20 Army commander Yahweh says: People will come again, even those who’re currently living in various different cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another city and say, ‘Let’s go quickly to Yerushalem to make our requests to Yahweh—to ask for the favour of army commander Yahweh. We ourselves are also going.’ 22 Many people and powerful nations will come to seek army commander Yahweh there in Yerushalem, and to beg for Yahweh’s favour. 23 Army commander Yahweh says: In those days, ten men from every language and nation will grasp the hem of your robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we’ve heard that God helps you.’ ”
9 This is a declaration of Yahweh’s message concerning the Syrian Hadrak region and focussing on Damascus city, because the eyes of all humanity, including all of Israel’s tribes, are toward Yahweh.[ref] 2 It’s also about the Hamat region which borders on Tsor (Tyre) and Tsidon (Sidon) which is very wise. 3 Tsor has built herself a stronghold and heaped up silver like dust and refined gold like mud in the streets. 4 Listen, my master will dispossess her and throw her wealth into the sea, and she’ll be consumed by fire.
5 Ashkelon city will see and be afraid. Azzah city (Gaza) will also squirm in pain. Ekron city will have her hopes dashed. Azzah’s king will die, and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited.[ref] 6 Strangers will move into Ashdod, and I’ll end the Philistines’ pride. 7 I will remove the meat with blood still in it from their mouths and their foods offered to idols from between their teeth. Then they’ll become a remnant for our God like a clan in Yehudah, and Ekron will end up like the Yebusites did. 8 I’ll camp around my house as a guard to prevent anyone from passing through or returning so no oppressor can overrun them, because I’ve now looked with my own eyes.
9 Shout with a huge celebration, daughter of Tsiyyon (Zion).
≈Shout with happiness, Yerushalem’s daughter.
Look! Your king is coming to you bringing justice and victory.
He’s humble and is riding on a donkey, i.e., a donkey’s foal.[ref]
10 Then I’ll neutralise the chariots heading to Efrayim,
≈and the horses heading to Yerushalem,
and the bows won’t make it into battle.
He’ll speak peace to the nations,
and his dominion will be from sea to sea,
11 You people of Yerushalem, because of the blood of my agreement with you,
I’ll set your prisoners free from that pit without water in it.[ref]
12 You prisoners with hope, return back inside the walls.
Even today I’m declaring that I will return double to you,
13 because I’ve bent Yehudah as my bow.
≈I have filled my quiver with Efrayim.
Tsiyyon (Zion), I’ve roused your sons, against your sons, Greece,
and Tsiyyon, I’ve made you like a warrior’s sword.”
14 Then Yahweh will appear to them,
and his arrow will shoot out like lightning.
For my master Yahweh will sound the trumpet
and will advance with the storms from the south.
15 Army commander Yahweh of hosts will defend them,
and they will devour them and deflect the stones from the slings.
Then they’ll drink and shout like men drunk on wine,
and they’ll be filled with wine like bowls,
drenched like the corners of the altar.
16 Then on that day, their God Yahweh will rescue them,
They’re the jewels of a crown that will sparkle over his land.
17 How good and how beautiful they’ll be.
The young men will flourish on grain
≈and the young women on new wine!
10 Ask Yahweh for rain in the springtime—
Yahweh who makes thunderstorms and gives rain showers to everyone
including the vegetation in the countryside.
2 Diviners tell deceitful dreams and give empty comfort
because household idols speak falsely and so those diviners envision something that’s a lie.
Therefore the people wander like sheep and suffer because there’s no shepherd.[ref]
3 “I’m angry with the shepherds—it’s the leaders that I’ll punish.
Army commander Yahweh will also attend to his flock—the house of Yehudah,
and make them like his warhorse in battle.
4 The building’s cornerstone will come from Yehudah.
≈From him will come the tent peg,
from him will come the war bow,
≈from him will come every one of their strong leaders.
5 They’ll be like warriors in battle
who trample their enemies into the mud of the streets.
They’ll go to war, because Yahweh is with them,
and they’ll shame those riding warhorses.
6 I’ll strengthen the house of Yehudah
≈and save the house of Yosef (Joseph)
because I’ll bring them back and have compassion on them.
They’ll be as though I hadn’t driven them off,
and I’ll respond to them.
7 Then Efrayim (Ephraim, referring to Israel) will be like a warrior,
and their hearts will rejoice as with wine;
Their children will see and rejoice.
≈Their hearts will rejoice in me!
8 I’ll whistle to call them and gather them,
because I’ll rescue them,
and they’ll become as numerous as they were previously.
9 I scattered them among the nations,
but they’ll remember me in distant countries,
so they and their children will live and return,
10 because I’ll bring them back from the land of Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim)
≈and gather them from Assyria.
I’ll bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon
until the region is filled with them.
11 Yahweh will lead them through their sufferings.
He will strike the waves of that sea
≈and will dry up all the depths of the Nile.
The Assyria’s greatness will come to an end,
≈and Egypt’s power will be removed.
12 I will strengthen them in myself,
and they will obey what I’ve instructed them.
That is Yahweh’s declaration.”
so that fire can devour your cedar trees.
2 Wail, cypress trees, because the cedar trees have fallen.
What was majestic has been devastated.
Wail, you Bashan oaks, because the strong forest has come down.
3 Listen to the shepherds wail,
because their pride and joy has been destroyed.
≈Listen to the young lions roaring,
≈because the pride of the Yordan river has been devastated.
11:4 The two shepherds
4 My God Yahweh says: “Be like a shepherd who’s watching over the flock that have been marked to be slaughtered. 5 The ones who buy them slaughter them and aren’t punished, and the ones who sell them say, ‘Blessed be Yahweh! I’ve become rich.’ because the shepherds working for the flocks’ owners have no pity on them.
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2:1 The modern equivalent would be a tape measure.
4:14 It’s not clear who this is referring to.
5:6 Some ancient translations have ‘iniquity’ here, but we’ve stayed with the Hebrew.
8:7 including Babylon in the east, and Egypt (Mitsrayim) in the west.
3:2: Jude 9.
3:8: Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 6:12.
6:12: Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8.
9:1: Isa 17:1-3; Jer 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5.
9:5-7: Isa 14:29-31; Jer 47:1-7; Eze 25:15-17; Yoel 3:4-8; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4-7.