Zechariah 12

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

God's profound message for Israel is this: He, who masterfully crafted the vast skies, laid the earth's groundwork, and breathed life into humanity, speaks.

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

Watch, as I turn Jerusalem into a chalice of fear for all surrounding nations, during their attack on both Judah and Jerusalem.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

On that day, I will make Jerusalem a heavy burden for everyone. Anyone who tries to carry it will be torn apart, even if the whole world unites against it.

In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

On that day, declares the Lord, I will fill every horse with fear and their riders with insanity. I will turn my gaze towards the house of Judah, and blind every horse of the people.

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

The leaders of Judah will feel deep within, "The people of Jerusalem are my source of strength, given by the Lord, our God."

In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

On that day, I will empower Judah's leaders, making them as fierce as a blazing fire in a forest, as bright as a torch among gathered grain. They will overcome all surrounding nations, from every direction. And Jerusalem will once again be filled with her people, right where she stands.

The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.

God will first rescue the people of Judah, ensuring that neither the prestige of David's lineage nor the pride of Jerusalem's residents overshadows Judah's importance.

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

On that day, God will protect the people of Jerusalem. Even the weakest among them will be as strong as David. And David's lineage will be as divine and powerful as God's own angel.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

On that destined day, I will fiercely defend Jerusalem, seeking to obliterate any nation that dares to oppose it.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

I will shower David's lineage and Jerusalem's people with a spirit of mercy and prayer. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and grieve deeply for him, as if they've lost their only child, feeling a profound sorrow as if mourning their firstborn.

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

On that day, Jerusalem will weep deeply, just like the sorrow felt in Hadadrimmon in the Megiddon valley.

And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

The earth will grieve, each family in solitude; David's household and their spouses in separate sorrow; Nathan's kin and their wives in individual lament.

The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

The Levi family and their wives, separated; the Shimei family and their wives, also separated; each in their own solitude.

All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Each remaining family, each one separate, along with their wives, all distinct and alone.