Study Desk

But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,' declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,' declares Yahweh of hosts.

For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Once more—in a little while—I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

"Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "Call out, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

But I am very wrathful with the nations who are at ease; for I was only a little wrathful, but they helped increase the calamity."

Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares Yahweh.

Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a wondrous sign, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.

"Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘I am jealous with great jealousy for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.'

Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land where the sun rises and from the land where the sun sets;

Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope;This very day I am declaring that I will return double to you.

I will make the house of Judah mighty,And I will save the house of Joseph,And I will cause them to return,Because I have had compassion on them;And they will be as though I had not rejected them,For I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them.

For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who face annihilation, seek the young, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will consume the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.

"Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples all around. Now the one in siege against Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

but he will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I am a cultivator of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.'

"‘A son honors his father, and a slave his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is the fear of Me?' says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?'

"But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says Yahweh of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."

Behold, I am going to rebuke your seed, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says Yahweh of hosts.

And you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says Yahweh of hosts.

"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh.