Zechariah 12

1. A prophecy, the word of Adonai concerning Isra’el — here is the message from Adonai, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit inside human beings:

2. “I will make Yerushalayim a cup 2 that will stagger the surrounding peoples. 2 Even Y’hudah will be caught up 2 in the siege against Yerushalayim.

3. When that day comes, I will make Yerushalayim 3 a heavy stone for all the peoples. 3 All who try to lift it will hurt themselves, 3 and all the earth’s nations will be massed against her.

4. When that day comes,” says Adonai, 4 “I will strike all the horses with panic 4 and their riders with madness; 4 I will keep watch over Y’hudah, 4 but I will strike blind all the horses of the peoples.

5. The leaders of Y’hudah will say to themselves, 5 ‘Those living in Yerushalayim are my strength 5 through Adonai-Tzva’ot their God.’

6. When that day comes, 6 I will make the leaders of Y’hudah 6 like a blazing fire pan in a pile of wood, 6 like a fiery torch among sheaves of grain; 6 they will devour all the surrounding peoples, 6 on the right and on the left. 6 Yerushalayim will be inhabited 6 in her own place, Yerushalayim.

7. Adonai will save the tents of Y’hudah first, 7 so that the glory of the house of David 7 and the glory of those living in Yerushalayim 7 will not appear greater than that of Y’hudah.

8. When that day comes, Adonai will defend 8 those living in Yerushalayim. 8 On that day, even someone who stumbles 8 will be like David; 8 and the house of David will be like God, 8 like the angel of Adonai before them.

9. “When that day comes, I will seek to destroy 9 all nations attacking Yerushalayim;

10. and I will pour out on the house of David 10 and on those living in Yerushalayim 10 a spirit of grace and prayer; 10 and they will look to me, whom they pierced.” 10 They will mourn for him 10 as one mourns for an only son; 10 they will be in bitterness on his behalf 10 like the bitterness for a firstborn son.

11. When that day comes, there will be 11 great mourning in Yerushalayim, 11 mourning like that for Hadad-Rimmon 11 in the Megiddo Valley.

12. Then the land will mourn, 12 each family by itself — 12 the family of the house of David by itself, 12 and their wives by themselves; 12 the family of the house of Natan by itself, 12 and their wives by themselves;

13. the family of the house of Levi by itself, 13 and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the Shim‘i by itself, 13 and their wives by themselves;

14. all the remaining families, each by itself, 14 and their wives by themselves.