The Coming King
Zechariah 9
The Lord pronounces judgment against Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, and the cities of the Philistines, bringing down their pride and taking away their power. He then calls the daughter of Sion to rejoice, for her king is coming to her, righteous and bringing salvation, meek and riding on a donkey and its foal, one who will banish the weapons of war and speak peace to the nations, and the Lord promises to save his people and set free the prisoners of hope.
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
1
ThomsonA BURDEN of the word of the Lord: In the land of Sedrach and Damascus is His sacrifice, because the Lord hath an eye over men, particularly over all the tribes of Israel; in Hemath also—in the borders thereof.
BrentonThe burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Sedrach, and his sacrifice shall be in Damascus; for the Lord looks upon men, and upon all the tribes of Israel.
GreekΛῆμμα λόγου Κυρίου ἐν γῇ Σεδρὰχ, καὶ Δαμασκοῦ θυσία αὐτοῦ, διότι Κύριος ἐφορᾷ ἀνθρώπους, καὶ πάσας φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVThe burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.
JPSThe burden of the word of the LORD. In the land of Hadrach, And in Damascus shall be His resting-place; For the LORD’S is the eye of man And all the tribes of Israel.
2
ThomsonAs for Tyre and Sidon, because they were very prudent,
BrentonAnd in Emath, even in her coasts, are Tyre and Sidon, because they were very wise.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν Ἠμὰθ ἐν τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς Τύρος καὶ Σιδὼν, διότι ἐφρόνησαν σφόδρα.
KJV—
JPSAnd Hamath also shall border thereon; Tyre and Zidon, for she is very wise.
3
Thomsontherefore Tyre built for herself bulwarks, and treasured up silver like dust, and collected gold like dirt in the highways;
BrentonAnd Tyrus built strong-holds for herself, and heaped up silver as dust, and gathered gold as the mire of the ways.
GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Τύρος ὀχυρώματα αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐθησαύρισεν ἀργύριον ὡς χοῦν, καὶ συνήγαγε χρυσίον ὡς πηλὸν ὁδῶν.
KJVAnd Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
JPSAnd Tyre did build herself a stronghold, And heaped up silver as the dust, And fine gold as the mire of the streets.
4
Thomsonbut on account of this the Lord will take possession of them, and He will smite her power into the sea; and she shall be consumed by fire.
BrentonAnd therefore the Lord will take them for a possession, and will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be consumed with fire.
GreekΚαὶ διατοῦτο Κύριος κληρονομήσει αὐτοὺς, καὶ πατάξει εἰς θάλασσαν δύναμιν αὐτῆς, καὶ αὕτη ἐν πυρὶ καταναλωθήσεται.
KJVBehold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
JPSBehold, the Lord will impoverish her, And He will smite her power into the sea; And she shall be devoured with fire.
5
ThomsonAskalon shall see and be terrified; so shall Gaza, and be exceedingly pained: Akkaron also; because at her fall she was confounded. And a king shall perish out of Gaza; and Askalon shall no more be inhabited.
BrentonAscalon shall see, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be greatly pained, and Accaron; for she is ashamed at her trespass; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ascalon shall not be inhabited.
GreekὌψεται Ἀσκάλων, καὶ φοβηθήσεται, καὶ Γάζα, καὶ ὀδυνηθήσεται σφόδρα, καὶ Ἀκκάρων, ὅτι ᾐσχύνθη ἐπὶ τῷ παραπτώματι αὐτῆς· καὶ ἀπολεῖται βασιλεὺς ἐκ Γάζης, καὶ Ἀσκάλων οὐ μὴ κατοικηθῇ.
KJVAshkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
JPSAshkelon shall see it, and fear, Gaza also, and shall be sore pained, And Ekron, for her expectation shall be ashamed; And the king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6
ThomsonAnd strangers shall dwell in Azotus. And I will destroy the pride of the Philistines,
BrentonAnd aliens shall dwell in Azotus, and I will bring down the pride of the Philistines.
GreekΚαὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἀλλογενεῖς ἐν Ἀζώτῳ, καὶ καθελῶ ὕβριν ἀλλοφύλων,
KJVAnd a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
JPSAnd a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7
Thomsonand take away their blood out of their mouths, and their abominations from between their teeth. But they themselves shall be left for our God and shall be like a captain of a thousand in Juda; and Akkaron shall be like a Jebusite.
BrentonAnd I will take their blood out of their mouth, and their abominations from between their teeth; and these also shall be left to our God, and they shall be as a captain of a thousand in Juda, and Accaron as a Jebusite.
Greekκαὶ ἐξαρῶ τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν ἐκ στόματος αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῶν ἐκ μέσου ὀδόντων αὐτῶν· καὶ ὑπολειφθήσονται καὶ οὗτοι τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἔσονται ὡς χιλίαρχος ἐν Ἰούδᾳ, καὶ Ἀκκάρων ὡς ὁ Ἰεβουσαῖος.
KJVAnd I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
JPSAnd I will take away his blood out of his mouth, And his detestable things from between his teeth, And he also shall be a remnant for our God; And he shall be as a chief in Judah, And Ekron as a Jebusite.
8
ThomsonAnd I will station for my house a bulwark not to be passed nor re-passed. And the plunderer shall no more come against them; for now I have seen with mine own eyes.
BrentonAnd I will set up a defence for my house, that they may not pass through, nor turn back, neither shall there any more come upon them one to drive them away: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
GreekΚαὶ ὑποστήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ μου ἀνάστημα, τοῦ μὴ διαπορεύεσθαι, μηδὲ ἀνακάμπτειν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐπέλθῃ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς οὐκέτι ἐξελαύνων, διότι νῦν ἑώρακα ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου.
KJVAnd I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
JPSAnd I will encamp about My house against the army, That none pass through or return; And no oppressor shall pass through them any more; For now have I seen with Mine eyes.
9
ThomsonRejoice exceedingly, O daughter of Sion! Make proclamation, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold thy king is coming for thee. He is righteous and a saviour. He is meek and mounted on an ass, even a young colt.
BrentonRejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King is coming to thee, just, and a Saviour; he is meek and riding on an ass, and a young foal.
GreekΧαῖρε σφόδρα θύγατερ Σιὼν, κήρυσσε θύγατερ Ἱερουσαλήμ· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔρχεταί σοι δίκαιος καὶ σώζων, αὐτὸς πραῢς, καὶ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὑποζύγιον καὶ πῶλον νέον.
KJVRejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
JPSRejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, He is triumphant, and victorious, Lowly, and riding upon an ass, Even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10
ThomsonHe will destroy chariots out of Ephraim and horses out of Jerusalem: and the battle-bow shall be destroyed. And there shall be a multitude and peace from the nations; and he shall rule over waters to the sea, and over rivers to the ends of the earth.
BrentonAnd he shall destroy the chariots out of Ephraim, and the horse out of Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be utterly destroyed; and there shall be abundance and peace out of the nations; and he shall rule over the waters as far as the sea, and the rivers to the ends of the earth.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξολοθρεύσει ἅρματα ἐξ Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ ἵππον ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐξολοθρεύσεται τόξον πολεμικὸν, καὶ πλῆθος καὶ εἰρήνη ἐξ ἐθνῶν, καὶ κατάρξει ὑδάτων ἕως θαλάσσης, καὶ ποταμῶν διεκβολὰς γῆς.
KJVAnd I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
JPSAnd I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem, And the battle bow shall be cut off, And he shall speak peace unto the nations; And his dominion shall be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
11
ThomsonAs for thee, thou by the blood of thy covenant hast sent forth thy prisoners out of a pit which hath no water.
BrentonAnd thou by the blood of thy covenant hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit that has no water.
GreekΚαὶ σὺ ἐν αἵματι διαθήκης σου ἐξαπέστειλας δεσμίους σου ἐκ λάκκου οὐκ ἔχοντος ὕδωρ.
KJVAs for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
JPSAs for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I send forth thy prisoners out of the pit Wherein is no water.
12
ThomsonYou, the prisoners of the congregation, shall be placed in strongholds, and for one day of thy sojourning I will make thee twofold compensation.
BrentonYe shall dwell in strongholds, ye prisoners of the congregation: and for one day of thy captivity I will recompense thee double.
GreekΚαθήσεσθε ἐν ὀχυρώμασι δέσμιοι τῆς συναγωγῆς, καὶ ἀντὶ μιᾶς ἡμέρας παροικεσίας σου διπλᾶ ἀνταποδώσω σοι,
KJVTurn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
JPSReturn to the stronghold, Ye prisoners of hope; Even to-day do I declare That I will render double unto thee.
13
ThomsonFor I have bent thee, Juda, [as] a bow for Myself, and filled it with Ephraim; and I will raise up thy sons, O Sion, against the sons of Greece, and I will handle thee as the sword of a warrior.
BrentonFor I have bent thee, O Juda, for myself as a bow, I have filled Ephraim; and I will raise up thy children, O Sion, against the children of the Greeks, and I will handle thee as the sword of a warrior.
Greekδιότι ἐνέτεινά σε Ἰούδα ἐμαυτῷ τόξον, ἔπλησα τὸν Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ ἐξεγερῶ τὰ τέκνα σου Σιὼν ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα τῶν Ἑλλήνων, καὶ ψηλαφήσω σε ὡς ῥομφαίαν μαχητοῦ,
KJVWhen I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
JPS—
14
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the Lord shall be over them, and his arrow shall go forth as lightning: and the Lord Almighty shall blow with the trumpet; and shall proceed with the tumult of his threatening.
Greekκαὶ Κύριος ἔσται ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ὡς ἀστραπὴ βολὶς, καὶ Κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἐν σάλπιγγι σαλπιεῖ, καὶ πορεύσεται ἐν σάλῳ ἀπειλῆς αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
JPSAnd the LORD shall be seen over them, And His arrow shall go forth as the lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the horn, And will go with whirlwinds of the south.
15
ThomsonThe Lord Almighty will protect them, and they shall consume them and overwhelm them with sling-stones; and drink them up as wine and fill the bowls as an altar.
BrentonThe Lord Almighty shall protect them, and they shall destroy them, and overwhelm them with sling-stones; and they shall swallow them down as wine, and fill the bowls as the altar.
GreekΚύριος παντοκράτωρ ὑπερασπιεῖ αὐτούς· καὶ καταναλώσουσιν αὐτοὺς, καὶ καταχώσουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν λίθοις σφενδόνης, καὶ ἐκπίονται αὐτοὺς ὡς οἶνον, καὶ πλήσουσι τὰς φιάλας ὡς θυσιαστήριον.
KJVThe LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
JPSThe LORD of hosts will defend them; And they shall devour, and shall tread down the sling-stones; And they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; And they shall be filled like the basins, like the corners of the altar.
16
ThomsonIn that day the Lord their God will save them—His people—like a flock; for holy stones are rolled on His land.
BrentonAnd the Lord their God shall save them in that day, even his people as a flock; for holy stones are rolled upon his land.
GreekΚαὶ σώσει αὐτοὺς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ὡς πρόβατα λαὸν αὐτοῦ, διότι λίθοι ἅγιοι κυλίονται ἐπὶ γῆς αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
JPSAnd the LORD their God shall save them in that day As the flock of His people; For they shall be as the stones of a crown, Glittering over His land.
17
ThomsonBecause if there be anything good it is His; if anything comely, it is His; corn for the youths, and flavourous wine for virgins.
BrentonFor if he has anything good, and if he has anything fair, the young men shall have corn, and there shall be fragrant wine to the virgins.
GreekὍτι εἴ τι ἀγαθὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἴ τι καλὸν αὐτοῦ, σῖτος νεανίσκοις, καὶ οἶνος εὐωδιάζων εἰς παρθένους.
KJVFor how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
JPSFor how great is their goodness, and how great is their beauty! Corn shall make the young men flourish, And new wine the maids.