The Daily Audio Bible

Four Chariots

6 Again I lifted up my eyes, and behold, I saw four chariots emerging from between the two mountains—mountains of bronze! ² The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, ³ the third chariot white horses and the fourth chariot had strong dapple horses.^[a]

⁴ Then I responded by saying to the angel speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

⁵ The angel answered me saying, “These are the four winds of heaven that go forth from the presence of the Lord of all the earth. ^{[b] 6} The chariot with the black horses is going to the land of the north and the white ones have gone out after them, but the dappled ones have gone out to the land of the south.” ⁷ When the strong ones went out, they requested to go to walk throughout the earth. He said, “Go! Walk throughout the earth.” So they walked throughout the earth.”

⁸ Then he called and spoke to me saying, ‘Look! Those going toward the land of the north have given rest to My Ruach in the north country.’

Crowns for Joshua

⁹ And the word of Adonai came to me saying: ¹⁰ ‘Take from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah who have come from Babylon, and go the same day, go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah! ¹¹ Take silver and gold, make crowns and set on the head of Joshua son of Johozadak, the kohen gadol. ¹² Then speak to him saying, “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: Behold, a man whose Name is the Branch will branch out from his place and build the Temple of Adonai. ¹³ He will build the Temple of Adonai. He will bear splendor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus He will be a kohen on His throne. So a counsel of shalom will be between them both. ¹⁴ The crowns will be in the Temple of Adonai as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah and Jedaiah, and to Chen son of Zephaniah. ¹⁵ Those who are far off will come and build in the Temple of Adonai.” Then you will know that Adonai-Tzva’ot has sent me to you. It will come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of Adonai your God.”

Justice and Chesed

7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of Adonai came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, in Kislev. ² Now Bethel sent Sarezer and Regem-melech together with his men to seek the favor of Adonai, ³ and to speak to the kohanim of the House of Adonai-Tzva’ot and to the prophets saying, “Should I mourn and consecrate myself in the fifth month as I have done for so many years?”

⁴ Then the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came to me saying: ⁵ “Speak to all the people of the land and to the kohanim saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh months for the past seventy years, did you really fast for Me? ⁶ When you eat and drink, are you not eating and drinking for yourself? ⁷ Are not these the words that Adonai proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem with its surrounding cities were inhabited and prosperous, when the Negev and the lowland were inhabited?’”

⁸ Again the word of Adonai came to Zechariah saying, ⁹ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: ‘Administer true judgment and practice mercy and compassion each to his brother. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the outsider or the poor. Furthermore, do not let any of you devise evil against one another in your heart.’

¹¹ “But they refused to pay attention. They stubbornly turned their backs and stopped their ears from hearing. ¹² Indeed, they made their hearts as hard as flint preventing them from hearing the Torah or the words that Adonai-Tzva’ot sent by His Ruach through the former prophets. Consequently, great wrath came from Adonai-Tzva’ot. ¹³ It came about that just as He called and they did not listen, so they would call and I would not listen,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. ¹⁴ ‘I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations they have not known. Thus the land was left so desolate behind them that no one passed through or returned, for they made the pleasant land desolate.’”

Song of Moses to the Lamb

15 Then I saw another great and wonderful sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven plagues—the last ones, for with them God’s wrath is finished. ² And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image^[a] and the number of his name standing by the sea of glass, holding the harps of God. ³ And they are singing the song of Moses^[b] the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying,

⁵ After these things I looked, and the Temple of the Tent of Witness in heaven was opened. ⁶ Out of the Temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, dressed in pure bright linen and wearing wide gold sashes around their chests.

⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power.^[f] No one was able to enter the Temple until the seven angels’ seven plagues were finished.

Hide Not Your Face from Me

Psalm 143

Lessons from Creatures