Zechariah 6 – New International Reader’s Version NIRV

New International Reader’s Version

Zechariah 6:1-15

A Vision of Four Chariots

1I looked up again and saw four chariots. They were coming out from between two mountains. The mountains were made out of bronze. 2The first chariot was pulled by red horses. The second one had black horses. 3The third had white horses. And the fourth had spotted horses. All the horses were powerful. 4I asked the angel who was talking with me, “Sir, what are these?”

5The angel answered, “The four spirits of heaven. They are going out to serve the Lord of the whole world. 6The chariot pulled by the black horses is going toward the north country. The one with the white horses is going toward the west. And the one with the spotted horses is going toward the south.”

7The powerful horses went out. They were in a hurry to go all over the earth. The angel said, “Go all through the earth!” So they did.

8Then the Lord called out to me, “Look! The horses going toward the north have given my Spirit rest in the north country.”

A Crown Is Given to Joshua

9A message from the Lord came to me. His angel said, 10“Get some silver and gold from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah. They have just come back from Babylon. On that same day go to Josiah’s house. He is the son of Zephaniah. 11Use the silver and gold to make a crown. Set it on the head of Joshua the high priest. He is the son of Jozadak. 12Give Joshua a message from the Lord who rules over all. He says, ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch. He will branch out and build my temple. 13That is what he will do. He will be dressed in majesty as if it were his royal robe. He will sit as king on his throne. He will also be a priest there. So he will combine the positions of king and priest in himself.’ 14The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Zephaniah’s son Hen. The crown will be kept in the Lord’s temple. It will remind everyone that the Lord’s promises will come true. 15Those who are far away will come to Jerusalem. They will help build the Lord’s temple. Then his people will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to them. It will happen if they are careful to obey the Lord their God.”