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Zechariah

Contains visions encouraging the rebuilding of the temple and messianic prophecies.

Chapter 9

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1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

*God's message for the land of Hadrach is that Damascus will find peace. As people from all Israel look to the Lord, this will happen.

2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.

*And Hamath will be next to this area too; Tyre and Sidon are nearby, even though they are very smart.

3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

*Tyrus built a powerful fortress and accumulated lots of silver like dirt and lots of gold like street mud.

4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

*Look, the Lord will expel her and destroy her strength in the sea; and she will be consumed by fire.

5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

*Ashkelon will see something that makes them afraid. Gaza and Ekron will also be very sad. The people's hopes will be disappointed. The king of Gaza will die, and Ashkelon will become empty.

6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

*A child born out of wedlock will live in Ashdod, and I will eliminate the Philistines' pride.

7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

*I will remove the blood and evil actions from his mouth and teeth. Those left will belong to God and be like a leader in Judah, while Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

*I will protect my home due to the soldiers nearby, for those coming and going, and no one cruel will harm them anymore. I have witnessed this with my own eyes.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

*Be very happy, dear girl of Zion; shout out, dear girl of Jerusalem: look, your King is coming to you: he is fair and saves people; humble, riding on a donkey and a young donkey's offspring.

10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

*I will remove the chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem, along with battle bows. He will then tell non-believers about peace. His rule will go from one sea to another, and from a river to the very edges of the world.

11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

*And for you too, through the blood of your agreement, I have released your captives from the pit where there's no water.

12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

*Go to the safe place, you hopeful prisoners: today I promise to give you twice as much.

13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

*When I guide Judah's people, give Ephraim's tribe strength, and raise up Zion's children against Greece, making you like a powerful warrior's sword.

14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

*And God will be seen watching over them, and his arrow will go out like lightning. God will blow a trumpet and go with powerful wind from the south.

15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

*The Lord of armies will protect them. They will defeat and overpower their enemies using slingshots. They will drink and celebrate loudly, as if they were drinking wine. They will be full, just like large bowls, and like the corners of an altar.

16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

*On that day, God will rescue them like a shepherd saving his sheep. They will be as precious stones in a crown, proudly displayed as a symbol on their land.

17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

*Because of how good and beautiful he is, people will be happy from the corn and the new wine.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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