1‘At that time a fountain will be opened for the benefit of David’s family line. It will also bless the others who live in Jerusalem. It will wash away their sins. It will make them pure and “clean”.2‘On that day I will remove the names of other gods from the land. They will not even be remembered anymore,’ announces the LORD who rules over all. ‘I will drive the evil prophets out of the land. I will get rid of the spirit that put lies in their mouths.3Some people might still prophesy. But their own fathers and mothers will speak to them. They will tell them, “You must die. You have told lies in the LORD’s name.” When they prophesy, their own parents will stab them.4‘At that time every prophet will be ashamed of the vision they see. They will no longer pretend to be a true prophet. They will not put on clothes that are made out of hair in order to trick people.5In fact, each one will say, “I’m not really a prophet. I’m a farmer. I’ve farmed the land since I was young.”6Suppose someone asks, “What are these wounds on your body?” Then they will answer, “I was given these wounds at the house of my friends.”
The good shepherd is killed and the sheep are scattered
7‘My sword, wake up! Attack my shepherd! Attack the man who is close to me,’ announces the LORD who rules over all. ‘Strike down the shepherd. Then the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand against their little ones.8Here is what will happen in the whole land,’ announces the LORD. ‘Two-thirds of the people will be struck down and die. But one-third will be left.9I will put this third in the fire. I will make them as pure as silver. I will test them like gold. They will call out to me. And I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people.” And they will say, “The LORD is our God.” ’
Zechariah 13
English Standard Version
from Crossway1“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. (Eze 36:25; Zec 12:3)
Idolatry Cut Off
2“And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. (Ex 23:13; Jer 10:11; Eze 30:13; Mic 5:13; Zec 10:2; Zec 13:1)3And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. (De 13:1)4“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, (Mic 3:7)5but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’[1] (Am 7:14)6And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’[2] he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’
The Shepherd Struck
7“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. (Isa 40:11; Mt 26:31; Mr 14:27; Heb 13:20)8In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. (Zec 14:2)9And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Ps 50:15; Ps 66:10; Ps 66:12; Isa 48:10; Eze 11:20; Zec 8:8; Zec 10:6; Mal 3:2; 1Pe 1:7)