1 An oracle {massa: prophetic burden}—the word of the LORD {YHWH, Cosmic Architect} concerning Israel. Declares the LORD: He stretches out the heavens, establishes the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
2 Behold, I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} am making Jerusalem a cup {saf: vessel of judgment} that causes all the surrounding peoples to stagger, and the siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.
3 And it shall be on that day that I{YHWH, Sovereign Judge} make Jerusalem a stone{even: obstacle} of burden for all the peoples; all who lift it will surely be wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against her.
4 In that day, declares the LORD {YHWH, Divine Arbiter}, I will strike every horse with astonishment {timahon: overwhelming confusion}, and its rider with madness; and upon the house of Judah I will open My eyes, and every horse of the peoples I will strike with blindness.
5 And the chiefs of Judah will say in their heart, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength {amtza: empowering support} in the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Divine Defender}, their God.”
6 On that day I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} will make the chiefs of Judah like a firepot {kiyor: burning vessel} among wood, and like a torch of fire among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples on the right and on the left, and Jerusalem shall again dwell in her place, in Jerusalem.
7 And the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer} will save the tents {oholei: temporary dwellings} of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be magnified over Judah.
8 On that day, the LORD {YHWH, Divine Protector} will defend the inhabitant of Jerusalem, and the one who stumbles among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God {Elohim, Divine Judge}, like the angel of the LORD who goes before them.
9 And it shall be in that day that I {YHWH, Guardian of Jerusalem} will seek to destroy all the nations {goyim: hostile peoples} coming against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplications, and they will look to Me {YHWH, Compassionate Redeemer}, whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son {yachid: uniquely beloved}, and they will be bitter over him as one is bitter over a firstborn.
11 In that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be great {yigdal: become extensive}, like the mourning of Hadad-Rimmon in the valley {bik'at: broad lowland} of Megiddo.
12 And the land {aretz: Country Personified} will mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives {neshehem: Female Spouses} by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves.
13 The family of the house of Levi {levi: Priestly Tribe} will mourn by themselves, and their wives {nesheihem: Female Spouses} by themselves; the family of the Shimeite will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves.
14 All the families that remain {nisharot: survivors} will mourn, each family alone, and their wives {neshehem: spousal companions} alone.