Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes ¹  as he stood there before the angel.

And now when you eat and drink, are you not doing so for yourselves?’”

But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,’ says the Lord who rules over all,

Now the people of Bethel ¹  had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor

Then I will surround my temple ¹  to protect it like a guard ²  from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.

Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you ¹  are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch. ² 

“Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying, ‘The Lord who rules over all says, “Turn now from your evil wickedness,”’ but they would by no means obey me,” says the Lord.

The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. ¹  Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the Lord who rules over all,” “holy mountain.”’

The riders then agreed with the angel of the Lord, ¹  who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have been walking about on the earth, and now everything is at rest and quiet.”

After this the angelic messenger ¹  who had been speaking to me went out and said, “Look, see what is leaving.”

“As for your ancestors, where are they? And did the prophets live forever?

Nevertheless the Lord will evict her and shove her fortifications ¹  into the sea – she will be consumed by fire.

The crown will then be turned over to Helem, ¹  Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen ²  son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

The angelic messenger ¹  who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep.

so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah – do not fear!

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners, with hope; today I declare that I will return double what was taken from you.

“The Lord who rules over all also says, ‘Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the Lord who rules over all, ¹  so that the temple might be built.

“I am about to punish them ¹  in such a way,” he says, “that they will be looted by their own slaves.” Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me.

Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze. ¹ 

In King Darius’ fourth year, on the fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month, ¹  the word of the Lord came to Zechariah.