Zechariah 4–6

Fifth Vision: The Lampstand and Olive Trees

⁴The angel who spoke with me came again and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep.^{* 2}He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.^{* 3}And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”^{* 4}I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these, my lord?” ⁵Then the angel who spoke with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” ⁶He said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.^{* 7}What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”^*

⁸Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.^{* 10}For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.

“These seven are the eyes of the Lord that range through the whole earth.”^{* 11}Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” ¹²And a second time I said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees that pour out the oil^l through the two golden pipes?” ¹³He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” ¹⁴Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”^*

Sixth Vision: The Flying Scroll

⁵Again I looked up and saw a flying scroll.^{* 2}And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” ³Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land, for everyone who has stolen, as is forbidden on one side, has gone unpunished, and everyone who has sworn falsely,^m as is forbidden on the other side, has gone unpunished.^{* 4}I have sent it out, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name, and it shall abide in that house and consume it, both timber and stones.”^*

Seventh Vision: The Woman in a Basket

⁵Then the angel who spoke with me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what this is that is coming out.” ⁶I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is a basketⁿ coming out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity^o in the whole land.” ⁷Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket!^{p 8}And he said, “This is Wickedness.” So he thrust her back into the basket^q and pressed the leaden weight down on its mouth.^{* 9}Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward. The wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket^r between earth and sky. ¹⁰Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “Where are they taking the basket?”^{s 11}He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it, and when this is prepared, they will set it down there on its base.”^*

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

⁶And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. ²The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses,^{* 3}the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray^t horses.^{* 4}Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these, my lord?” ⁵The angel answered me, “These are the four winds^u of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth.^{* 6}The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country,^v and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”^{* 7}When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. ⁸Then he cried out to me, “See, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.”^*

The Coronation of the Branch

⁹The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁰“Collect silver and gold^w from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah—who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.^{* 11}Take the silver and gold and make a crown^x and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak;^{* 12}say to him: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch, for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.^{* 13}It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord; he shall bear royal honor and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.^{* 14}And the crown^y shall be in the care of Heldai,^z Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah^a son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

¹⁵“Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”^*