The World English Bible (WEB) Part 76

The mighty man cries there bitterly. 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, 1:16 a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements. 1:17 I will bring distress on men, that they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Yahweh, and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh's wrath, but the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an end, yes, a terrible end, of all those who dwell in the land.

2:1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has no shame, 2:2 before the appointed time when the day pa.s.ses as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you, before the day of Yahweh's anger comes on you. 2:3 Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility.

It may be that you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh's anger. 2:4 For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up. 2:5 Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Yahweh is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines. I will destroy you, that there will be no inhabitant. 2:6 The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks. 2:7 The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for Yahweh, their G.o.d, will visit them, and restore them. 2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 2:9 Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Armies, the G.o.d of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them. 2:10 This they will have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Yahweh of Armies. 2:11 Yahweh will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the G.o.ds of the land. Men will wors.h.i.+p him, everyone from his place, even all the sh.o.r.es of the nations. 2:12 You Cus.h.i.+tes also, you will be killed by my sword. 2:13 He will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy a.s.syria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness. 2:14 Herds will lie down in the midst of her, all the animals of the nations. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams. 2:15 This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is none besides me." How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who pa.s.ses by her will hiss, and shake their fists.

3:1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city! 3:2 She didn't obey the voice. She didn't receive correction. She didn't trust in Yahweh. She didn't draw near to her G.o.d. 3:3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day. 3:4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. 3:5 Yahweh, in the midst of her, is righteous.

He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn't fail, but the unjust know no shame. 3:6 I have cut off nations.

Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that no one pa.s.ses by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. 3:7 I said, "Just fear me. Receive correction, so that her dwelling won't be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her." But they rose early and corrupted all their doings. 3:8 "Therefore wait for me," says Yahweh, "until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may a.s.semble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 3:9 For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of Yahweh, to serve him shoulder to shoulder. 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my wors.h.i.+pers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering. 3:11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain. 3:12 But I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. 3:13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid."

3:14 Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 3:15 Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in the midst of you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. 3:16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Don't be afraid, Zion. Don't let your hands be slack." 3:17 Yahweh, your G.o.d, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. 3:18 Those who are sad for the appointed feasts, I will remove from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you. 3:19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I will save those who are lame, and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honor, whose shame has been in all the earth. 3:20 At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, says Yahweh.

Haggai

1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 1:2 "This is what Yahweh of Armies says: These people say, 'The time hasn't yet come, the time for Yahweh's house to be built.'"

1:3 Then the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the prophet, saying, 1:4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste? 1:5 Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Consider your ways. 1:6 You have sown much, and bring in little. You eat, but you don't have enough. You drink, but you aren't filled with drink. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm, and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes in it."

1:7 This is what Yahweh of Armies says: "Consider your ways. 1:8 Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified," says Yahweh. 1:9 "You looked for much, and, behold, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says Yahweh of Armies, "Because of my house that lies waste, while each of you is busy with his own house. 1:10 Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.

1:11 I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on that which the ground brings forth, on men, on livestock, and on all the labor of the hands."

1:12 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Yahweh, their G.o.d, and the words of Haggai, the prophet, as Yahweh, their G.o.d, had sent him; and the people feared Yahweh.

1:13 Then Haggai, Yahweh's messenger, spoke Yahweh's message to the people, saying, "I am with you," says Yahweh.

1:14 Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of Yahweh of Armies, their G.o.d, 1:15 in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

2:1 In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 2:2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 2:3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes as nothing? 2:4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says Yahweh. 'Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' says Yahweh, 'and work, for I am with you,' says Yahweh of Armies. 2:5 This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. 'Don't be afraid.' 2:6 For this is what Yahweh of Armies says: 'Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 2:7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies. 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' says Yahweh of Armies. 2:9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says Yahweh of Armies; 'and in this place will I give peace,' says Yahweh of Armies."

2:10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 2:11 "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'"

The priests answered, "No."

2:13 Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?"

The priests answered, "It will be unclean."

2:14 Then Haggai answered, "'So is this people, and so is this nation before me,' says Yahweh; 'and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean. 2:15 Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the temple of Yahweh. 2:16 Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. 2:17 I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn't turn to me,' says Yahweh. 2:18 'Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh's temple was laid, consider it. 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you.'"

2:20 The Word of Yahweh came the second time to Haggai in the twenty- fourth day of the month, saying, 2:21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth. 2:22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. 2:23 In that day, says Yahweh of Armies, will I take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says Yahweh, 'and will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you,' says Yahweh of Armies."

Zechariah

1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying, 1:2 "Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers. 1:3 Therefore tell them: Thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'Return to me,' says Yahweh of Armies, 'and I will return to you,' says Yahweh of Armies. 1:4 Don't you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of Armies, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh. 1:5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 1:6 But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn't they overtake your fathers?

"Then they repented and said, 'Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.'" 1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying, 1:8 "I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses. 1:9 Then I asked, 'My lord, what are these?'"

The angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are."

1:10 The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, "They are the ones Yahweh has sent to go back and forth through the earth."

1:11 They reported to the angel of Yahweh who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked back and forth through the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace." 1:12 Then the angel of Yahweh replied, "O Yahweh of Armies, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?"

1:13 Yahweh answered the angel who talked with me with kind and comforting words. 1:14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, 'Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 1:15 I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity." 1:16 Therefore thus says Yahweh: "I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it," says Yahweh of Armies, "and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem."'

1:17 "Proclaim further, saying, 'Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and Yahweh will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem."'"

1:18 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns. 1:19 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these?"

He answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."

1:20 Yahweh showed me four craftsmen. 1:21 Then I asked, "What are these coming to do?"

He said, "These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it."

2:1 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2:2 Then I asked, "Where are you going?"

He said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length."

2:3 Behold, the angel who talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 2:4 and said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, 'Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the mult.i.tude of men and livestock in it. 2:5 For I,' says Yahweh, 'will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the midst of her. 2:6 Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,' says Yahweh; 'for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,' says Yahweh. 2:7 'Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.' 2:8 For thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 2:9 For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a spoil to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me. 2:10 Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you,'

says Yahweh. 2:11 Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. 2:12 Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 2:13 Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!"

3:1 He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. 3:2 Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?"

3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. 3:4 He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take the filthy garments off of him." To him he said, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pa.s.s from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing."

3:5 I said, "Let them set a clean turban on his head."

So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of Yahweh was standing by. 3:6 The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying, 3:7 "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by. 3:8 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch. 3:9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,' says Yahweh of Armies, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 3:10 In that day,'

says Yahweh of Armies, 'you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'"

4:1 The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 4:2 He said to me, "What do you see?"