Zechariah 6

And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

1I turned and looked up. I saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains. Chariots are carts that horses pull. The mountains were made of bronze.

Note"Brass" in the old English here means bronze, a hard, strong metal.

2In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

2The first chariot had red horses. The second chariot had black horses.

3And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.

3The third chariot had white horses. The fourth chariot had spotted horses. All of them were strong.

NoteThe old words "grisled and bay" describe horses with mixed or spotted coats. The Hebrew also says these horses were strong.

4Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

4I asked the angel who was talking with me, "What are these, my lord?" An angel is a messenger from God.

5And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.

5The angel said, "These are the four spirits of heaven. They stand before the Lord of all the earth. Now they are going out."

6The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

6"The black horses are going to the land in the north. The white horses go out after them, toward the west. The spotted horses go to the land in the south."

7And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

7The strong horses were eager to go all around the earth. The LORD said, "Go, walk all around the earth." So they did.

8Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

8Then the LORD called out to me. He said, "The horses going to the north have given my Spirit rest there."

9And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9Then the LORD spoke to me again. He said:

10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

10"Some men have come back from Babylon. Their names are Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. Take a gift from them. Go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah."

11Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

11"Take the silver and gold. Make a crown from it. Put it on the head of Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest. The high priest was the leader of all the priests."

12And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

12"Then tell him what the LORD of Hosts says. The LORD of Hosts is God, who rules over all the armies of heaven. He says, 'Here is a man whose name is the Branch. He will grow up from his own place. He will build the house of the LORD.'"

Note"The Branch" is being used as a name, like a nickname. A branch is a new green shoot that grows out of a tree.

13Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

13"'Yes, he is the one who will build the house of the LORD. He will be given great honor. He will sit on his throne and rule. He will also be a priest on his throne. His ruling and his priestly work will fit together in peace.'"

14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.

14The crown will stay in the house of the LORD. It will help people remember Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah.

15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

15People who live far away will come and help build the house of the LORD. Then you will know the LORD of Hosts sent me to you. This will happen if you carefully obey the LORD your God.