A Call to Return

Zechariah 1

The word of the Lord comes to the prophet Zacharias calling the people to turn back to him as their fathers did not, and to heed his commandments. Zacharias then sees a night vision of horsemen patrolling the whole earth, followed by the angel of the Lord interceding for Jerusalem and receiving the Lord's promise of compassion, the rebuilding of his house, and renewed prosperity for the cities of Judah.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIN the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zacharias the Barachite, the son of Addo, the prophet, saying:

BrentonIn the eighth month, in the second year of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, saying,

GreekἘΝ τῷ ὀγδόῳ μηνὶ, ἔτους δευτέρου ἐπὶ Δαρείου, ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ζαχαρίαν τὸν τοῦ Βαραχίου υἱὸν Ἀδδὼ τὸν προφήτην, λέγων,

KJVIn the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

JPSIn the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying:

ThomsonThe Lord was very angry with your fathers,

BrentonThe Lord has been very angry with your fathers.

GreekὨργίσθη Κύριος ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν ὀργὴν μεγάλην·

KJVThe LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

JPS’The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

Thomsontherefore thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Turn to Me, saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn to you saith the Lord of Hosts.

BrentonAnd thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; Turn to me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn to you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Greekκαὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοῦς, τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἐπιστρέψατε πρὸς μὲ, λέγει Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων.

KJVTherefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSTherefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Return unto Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

ThomsonAnd be not like your fathers to whom the former prophets called, saying, Thus saith the Lord Almighty: Turn from your evil ways and from your wicked practices. But they hearkened not, nor gave attention to listen to Me, saith the Lord.

BrentonAnd be ye not as your fathers, whom the prophets before charged, saying, Thus saith the Lord Almighty: Turn ye from your evil ways, and from your evil practices: but they hearkened not, and attended not to hearken to me, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ μὴ γίνεσθε καθὼς οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν, οἷς ἐνεκάλεσαν αὐτοῖς οἱ προφῆται ἔμπροσθεν λέγοντες, τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὁδῶν ὑμῶν τῶν πονηρῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑμῶν τῶν πονηρῶν· καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν, καὶ οὐ προσέσχον τοῦ εἰσακοῦσαί μου, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVBe ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

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

ThomsonAs for your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, will they live forever?

BrentonWhere are your fathers, and the prophets? Will they live for ever?

GreekΟἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ποῦ εἰσι καὶ οἱ προφῆται; μὴ τὸν αἰῶνα ζήσονται;

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

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

ThomsonBut receive ye My words and My statutes—all that I, by My spirit, give in charge to My servants the prophets, who reached your fathers when they addressed them and said: As the Lord Almighty determined to deal with us according to our ways, and according to our practices, so hath He dealt with us.

BrentonBut do ye receive my words and mine ordinances, all that I command by my Spirit to my servants the prophets, who lived in the days of your fathers; and they answered and said, As the Lord Almighty determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so has he done to us.

GreekΠλὴν τοὺς λόγους μου καὶ τὰ νόμιμά μου δέχεσθε, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ἐν πνεύματί μου τοῖς δούλοις μου τοῖς προφήταις, οἳ κατελάβοσαν τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν· καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν, καὶ εἶπαν, καθὼς παρατέτακται Κύριος παντοκράτωρ τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἡμῖν κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς ἡμῶν καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα ἡμῶν, οὕτως ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν.

KJVBut my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

JPSBut 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 the LORD of hosts purposed to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.’

ThomsonOn the twenty-fourth of the eleventh month, which is the month Sabat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, the Barachite, the son of Addo, the prophet:

BrentonOn the twenty-fourth day in the eleventh month, this is the month Sabat, in the second year of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, saying,

GreekΤῇ τετράδι καὶ εἰκάδι, τῷ ἑνδεκάτῳ μηνὶ, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μὴν Σαβὰτ, ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ἔτει, ἐπὶ Δαρείου, ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ζαχαρίαν τὸν τοῦ Βαραχίου υἱὸν Ἀδδὼ τὸν προφήτην, λέγων,

KJVUpon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

JPSUpon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying—

ThomsonI had been viewing the night, and lo! [there appeared] a man mounted on a red horse, and he stood between the shady mountains, and behind him were horses, red and ash-coloured, and dappled and white.

BrentonI saw by night, and behold a man mounted on a red horse, and he stood between the shady mountains; and behind him were red horses, and grey, and piebald, and white.

GreekἙώρακα τὴν νύκτα, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ἵππον πυῤῥὸν, καὶ οὗτος εἱστήκει ἀναμέσον τῶν ὀρέων τῶν κατασκίων, καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἵπποι πυῤῥοὶ, καὶ ψαροὶ, καὶ ποικίλοι, καὶ λευκοί.

KJVI saw by 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 were there red horses, speckled, and white.

JPSI 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.

ThomsonAnd I said, Lord what are these? And the angel who was talking with me said to me, I will shew thee what these are.

BrentonAnd I said, What are these, my lord? And the angel that spoke with me said to me, I will shew thee what these things are.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, τί οὗτοι κύριε; καὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἐγὼ δείξω σοι τί ἐστι ταῦτα.

KJVThen said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.

JPSThen 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.’

ThomsonThen the man who stood between the mountains addressing me said, These are they whom the Lord sent to go round the earth.

BrentonAnd the man that stood between the mountains answered, and said to me, These are they whom the Lord has sent forth to go round the earth.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἐφεστηκὼς ἀναμέσον τῶν ὀρέων, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οὓς ἐξαπέστειλε Κύριος, περιοδεῦσαι τὴν γῆν·

KJVAnd the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

JPSAnd the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said: ‘These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.’

ThomsonThen they addressed the angel of the Lord who stood between the mountains, and said: We have gone round all the earth, and lo, all the land is inhabited, and quiet.

BrentonAnd they answered the angel of the Lord that stood between the mountains, and said, We have gone round all the earth, and, behold, all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest.

Greekκαὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ Κυρίου τῷ ἐφεστῶτι ἀναμέσον τῶν ὀρέων, καὶ εἶπον, περιωδεύσαμεν πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ κατοικεῖται, καὶ ἡσυχάζει.

KJVAnd they answered the angel of the LORD 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.

JPSAnd they answered the angel of the LORD 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.’

ThomsonAnd the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord Almighty, how long wilt Thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, which Thou hast overlooked those seventy years?

BrentonThen the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord Almighty, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, which thou hast disregarded these seventy years?

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, καὶ εἶπε, Κύριε παντοκράτωρ ἕως τίνος οὐ μὴ ἐλεήσῃς τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα, ἃς ὑπερεῖδες, τοῦτο ἑβδομηκοστὸν ἔτος;

KJVThen the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

JPSThen the angel of the LORD spoke and said: ‘O LORD 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?

ThomsonAnd the Lord Almighty answered the angel, who had been talking with me, with good determinations, and comfortable words.

BrentonAnd the Lord Almighty answered the angel that spoke with me good words and consolatory sayings.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Κύριος παντοκράτωρ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ λαλοῦντι ἐν ἐμοὶ, ῥήματα καλὰ καὶ λόγους παρακλητικούς.

KJVAnd the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.

JPSAnd the LORD answered the angel that spoke with me with good words, even comforting words—

ThomsonWhereupon the angel who had been talking with me said to me—he cried with a loud voice, saying: Thus saith the Lord Almighty: I have been jealous of Jerusalem and Sion with great jealousy;

BrentonAnd the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry out and say, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Sion with great jealousy.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἀνάκραγε λέγων, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἐζήλωκα τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ τὴν Σιὼν ζῆλον μέγαν,

KJVSo the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

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

Thomsonand with great wrath [also] I am angry with the nations who were set on [her]. Because I was indeed a little displeased [with Jerusalem], but they [the nations] were bent on mischief.

BrentonAnd I am very angry with the heathen that combine to attack her: forasmuch as I indeed was a little angry, but they combined to attack her for evil.

Greekκαὶ ὀργὴν μεγάλην ἐγὼ ὀργίζομαι ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ συνεπιτιθέμενα, ἀνθʼ ὧν μὲν ἐγὼ ὠργίσθην ὀλίγα, αὐτοὶ δὲ συνεπέθεντο εἰς κακά.

KJVAnd I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

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

ThomsonTherefore thus saith the Lord: I will turn to Jerusalem with compassion, and My house shall be rebuilded in it, saith the Lord Almighty, and a line shall be stretched over Jerusalem.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; and my house shall be rebuilt in her, saith the Lord Almighty, and a measuring line shall yet be stretched out over Jerusalem.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐπιστρέψω ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν οἰκτιρμῷ, καὶ ὁ οἶκός μου ἀνοικοδομηθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, καὶ μέτρον ἐκταθήσεται ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔτι·

KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

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

ThomsonAnd again the angel who had been talking with me said to me—again he cried with a loud voice, and said: Thus saith the Lord Almighty: Again shall cities abound with prosperity; and again the Lord will compassionate Sion and make choice of Jerusalem.

BrentonAnd the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry yet, and say, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; Yet shall cities be spread abroad through prosperity; and the Lord shall yet have mercy upon Sion, and shall choose Jerusalem.

Greekκαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἔτι ἀνάκραγε λέγων, τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἔτι διαχυθήσονται πόλεις ἐν ἀγαθοῖς, καὶ ἐλεήσει Κύριος ἔτι τὴν Σιὼν, καὶ αἱρετιεῖ τὴν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVCry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

JPSAgain, proclaim, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.’