Zechariah 7-9

New International Version

Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting

7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah^(A) on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.^(B) ²The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat^(C) the Lord^(D) ³by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn^(E) and fast in the fifth^(F) month, as I have done for so many years?”

⁴Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: ⁵“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted^(G) and mourned in the fifth and seventh^(H) months for the past seventy years,^(I) was it really for me that you fasted? ⁶And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?^(J) ⁷Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets^(K) when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest^(L) and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills^(M) were settled?’”^(N)

⁸And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: ⁹“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;^(O) show mercy and compassion to one another.^(P) ¹⁰Do not oppress the widow^(Q) or the fatherless, the foreigner^(R) or the poor.^(S) Do not plot evil against each other.’^(T)

¹¹“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly^(U) they turned their backs^(V) and covered their ears.^(W) ¹²They made their hearts as hard as flint^(X) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.^(Y) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.^(Z)

¹³“‘When I called, they did not listen;^(AA) so when they called, I would not listen,’^(AB) says the Lord Almighty.^(AC) ¹⁴‘I scattered^(AD) them with a whirlwind^(AE) among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it.^(AF) This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.^(AG)’”

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

²This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous^(AH) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

³This is what the Lord says: “I will return^(AI) to Zion^(AJ) and dwell in Jerusalem.^(AK) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,^(AL) and the mountain^(AM) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.^(AN)”

⁴This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,^(AO) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. ⁵The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.^(AP)”

⁶This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,^(AQ) but will it seem marvelous to me?^(AR)” declares the Lord Almighty.

⁷This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.^(AS) ⁸I will bring them back^(AT) to live^(AU) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,^(AV) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.^(AW)”

⁹This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong^(AX) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets^(AY) said who were present when the foundation^(AZ) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. ¹⁰Before that time there were no wages^(BA) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely^(BB) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. ¹¹But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”^(BC) declares the Lord Almighty.

¹²“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,^(BD) the ground will produce its crops,^(BE) and the heavens will drop their dew.^(BF) I will give all these things as an inheritance^(BG) to the remnant of this people.^(BH) ¹³Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse^[a]^(BI) among the nations, so I will save^(BJ) you, and you will be a blessing.^[b]^(BK) Do not be afraid,^(BL) but let your hands be strong.^(BM)”

¹⁴This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster^(BN) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, ¹⁵“so now I have determined to do good^(BO) again to Jerusalem and Judah.^(BP) Do not be afraid. ¹⁶These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth^(BQ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment^(BR) in your courts;^(BS) ¹⁷do not plot evil^(BT) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.^(BU) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

¹⁸The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

¹⁹This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,^(BV) fifth,^(BW) seventh^(BX) and tenth^(BY) months will become joyful^(BZ) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth^(CA) and peace.”

²⁰This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, ²¹and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat^(CB) the Lord and seek^(CC) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ ²²And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”^(CD)

²³This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”^(CE)

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

9 A prophecy:^(CF)

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak
    and will come to rest on Damascus^(CG)—
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
    are on the Lord—^[c]
²and on Hamath^(CH) too, which borders on it,
    and on Tyre^(CI) and Sidon,^(CJ) though they are very skillful.
³Tyre has built herself a stronghold;
    she has heaped up silver like dust,
    and gold like the dirt of the streets.^(CK)
⁴But the Lord will take away her possessions
    and destroy^(CL) her power on the sea,
    and she will be consumed by fire.^(CM)
⁵Ashkelon^(CN) will see it and fear;
    Gaza will writhe in agony,
    and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.
Gaza will lose her king
    and Ashkelon will be deserted.
⁶A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,
    and I will put an end^(CO) to the pride of the Philistines.
⁷I will take the blood from their mouths,
    the forbidden food from between their teeth.
Those who are left will belong to our God^(CP)
    and become a clan in Judah,
    and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.^(CQ)
⁸But I will encamp^(CR) at my temple
    to guard it against marauding forces.^(CS)
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
    for now I am keeping watch.^(CT)

The Coming of Zion’s King

⁹Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!^(CU)
    Shout,^(CV) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,^(CW)
    righteous and victorious,^(CX)
lowly and riding on a donkey,^(CY)
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.^(CZ)
¹⁰I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.^(DA)
He will proclaim peace^(DB) to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River^[d] to the ends of the earth.^(DC)
¹¹As for you, because of the blood of my covenant^(DD) with you,
    I will free your prisoners^(DE) from the waterless pit.^(DF)
¹²Return to your fortress,^(DG) you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice^(DH) as much to you.
¹³I will bend Judah as I bend my bow^(DI)
    and fill it with Ephraim.^(DJ)
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
    against your sons, Greece,^(DK)
    and make you like a warrior’s sword.^(DL)

The Lord Will Appear

¹⁴Then the Lord will appear over them;^(DM)
    his arrow will flash like lightning.^(DN)
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;^(DO)
    he will march in the storms^(DP) of the south,
¹⁵    and the Lord Almighty will shield^(DQ) them.
They will destroy
    and overcome with slingstones.^(DR)
They will drink and roar as with wine;^(DS)
    they will be full like a bowl^(DT)
    used for sprinkling^[e] the corners^(DU) of the altar.
¹⁶The Lord their God will save his people on that day^(DV)
    as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
    like jewels in a crown.^(DW)
¹⁷How attractive and beautiful they will be!
    Grain will make the young men thrive,
    and new wine the young women.

Footnotes

Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed
Zechariah 9:1 Or Damascus. / For the eye of the Lord is on all people, / as well as on the tribes of Israel,
Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
Zechariah 9:15 Or bowl, / like

Revelation 19

New International Version

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude^(A) in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!^(B)
Salvation^(C) and glory and power^(D) belong to our God,
² for true and just are his judgments.^(E)
He has condemned the great prostitute^(F)
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”^(G)

³And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!^(H)
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”^(I)

⁴The twenty-four elders^(J) and the four living creatures^(K) fell down^(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”^(M)

⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
all you his servants,^(N)
you who fear him,
both great and small!”^(O)

⁶Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(P) like the roar of rushing waters^(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!^(R)
    For our Lord God Almighty^(S) reigns.^(T)
⁷Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!^(U)
For the wedding of the Lamb^(V) has come,
    and his bride^(W) has made herself ready.
⁸Fine linen,^(X) bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(Y) of God’s holy people.)

⁹Then the angel said to me,^(Z) “Write this:^(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(AC)

¹⁰At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!^(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(AF)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹I saw heaven standing open^(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider^(AH) is called Faithful and True.^(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.^(AJ) ¹²His eyes are like blazing fire,^(AK) and on his head are many crowns.^(AL) He has a name written on him^(AM) that no one knows but he himself.^(AN) ¹³He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,^(AO) and his name is the Word of God.^(AP) ¹⁴The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,^(AQ) white^(AR) and clean. ¹⁵Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword^(AS) with which to strike down^(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a]^(AU) He treads the winepress^(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:^(AW)

king of kings and lord of lords.^(AX)

¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds^(AY) flying in midair,^(AZ) “Come,^(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,^(BB) ¹⁸so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(BC) free and slave,^(BD) great and small.”^(BE)

¹⁹Then I saw the beast^(BF) and the kings of the earth^(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(BH) and his army. ²⁰But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(BI) who had performed the signs^(BJ) on its behalf.^(BK) With these signs he had deluded^(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast^(BM) and worshiped its image.^(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(BO) of burning sulfur.^(BP) ²¹The rest were killed with the sword^(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(BR) and all the birds^(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.