< Zechariah 6 >

1 And I turn back, and lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four chariots are coming forth from between two of the mountains, and the mountains [are] mountains of brass.
Then I looked again and I saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains that looked like bronze.
2 In the first chariot [are] red horses, and in the second chariot brown horses,
The first chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses,
3 and in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot strong grisled horses.
the third by white horses, and the fourth by dappled grey horses—all of them strong horses.
4 And I answer and say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, 'What [are] these, my lord?'
“My lord, what are these?” I asked the angel I was talking to.
5 And the messenger answereth and saith unto me, 'These [are] four spirits of the heavens coming forth from presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth.
“They are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth,” the angel explained.
6 The brown horses that [are] therein, are coming forth unto the land of the north; and the white have come forth unto their hinder part; and the grisled have come forth unto the land of the south;
The chariot with the black horses went north, the one with the white horses went west, and the one with the dappled grey horses went south.
7 and the strong ones have come forth, and they seek to go to walk up and down in the earth;' and he saith, 'Go, walk up and down in the earth;' and they walk up and down in the earth.
When the strong horses came out they were eager to set off to patrol the earth. And he said, “Go and patrol the earth!” So they left and patrolled the earth.
8 And he calleth me, and speaketh unto me, saying, 'See, those coming forth unto the land of the north have caused My Spirit to rest in the land of the north.'
Then the angel called to me, saying, “Look! Those who went north have achieved what the Lord wanted in the land of the north.”
9 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
Then the Lord gave me another message:
10 to take of the captivity (who came from Babylon) from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, 'and thou hast come in — thou, in that day, yea, thou hast come into the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah,
Take the gifts brought by Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, the exiles returning from Babylon, and go immediately to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
11 and thou hast taken silver and gold, and hast made a crown, and hast placed on the head of Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest,
Use the silver and the gold they brought to make a crown, and place it on the head of Josiah, son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
12 and hast spoken unto him, saying: Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, saying: Lo, a man! A Shoot — [is] his name, And from his place he doth shoot up, And he hath built the temple of Jehovah.
Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: Look! The man who is called the Branch will grow from where he is and will build the Lord's Temple.
13 Yea, he doth build the temple of Jehovah, And he doth bear away honour, And he hath sat and ruled on His throne, And hath been a priest on His throne, And a counsel of peace is between both.
He is the one who will build the Lord's Temple, and he will be the one given the honor to rule from both the royal throne and the priestly throne and there will be peace and understanding between the two roles.
14 And the crown is to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah.
The crown will be kept in the Temple of the Lord as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Joshua the son of Zephaniah.
15 And the far-off come in, and they have built in the temple of Jehovah, and ye have known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me unto you, yea, it hath come to pass, if ye do certainly hearken to the voice of Jehovah your God.'
People who live in distant lands will come and build the Temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty sent me to you. This will happen if you listen attentively to what the Lord tells you.

< Zechariah 6 >