The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Zechariah 1

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Zechariah chapter 1 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “IN THE eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of HaShem unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the…” — the complete text of all 17 verses is below, free to read online.

1IN THE eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of HaShem unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying:

2'The HaShem hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

3Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith HaShem of hosts: Return unto Me, saith HaShem of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith HaShem of hosts.

4Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus saith HaShem of hosts: Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings; but they did not hear, nor attend unto Me, saith HaShem.

5Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

6But My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? so that they turned and said: Like as HaShem of hosts purposed to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.'

7Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of HaShem unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying--

8I saw in the night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were horses, red, sorrel, and white.

9Then said I: 'O my lord, what are these?' And the angel that spoke with me said unto me: 'I will show thee what these are.'

10And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said: 'These are they whom HaShem hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.'

11And they answered the angel of HaShem that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said: 'We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.'

12Then the angel of HaShem spoke and said: 'O HaShem of hosts, how long wilt Thou not have compassion on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which Thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

13And HaShem answered the angel that spoke with me with good words, even comforting words--

14so the angel that spoke with me said unto me: 'Proclaim thou, saying: Thus saith HaShem of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy;

15and I am very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped for evil.

16Therefore thus saith HaShem: I return to Jerusalem with compassions: My house shall be built in it, saith HaShem of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem.

17Again, proclaim, saying: Thus saith HaShem of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; and HaShem shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.'

17 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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