²³ “‘On that day,^(A)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant^(B) Zerubbabel^(C) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,^(D) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

²⁴ “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin^[a](A) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring^(B) on my right hand, I would still pull you off.

The Servant of the Lord

⁶ So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:^(A) ‘Not^(B) by might nor by power,^(C) but by my Spirit,’^(D) says the Lord Almighty.

⁷ “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.^(E) Then he will bring out the capstone^(F) to shouts^(G) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation^(H) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.^(I) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me^(J) to you.

¹⁰ “Who dares despise the day^(K) of small things,^(L) since the seven eyes^(M) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone^[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”^(N)

¹¹ Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees^(O) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

¹² Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

¹³ He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

¹⁴ So he said, “These are the two who are anointed^(P) to^[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.”

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone^(A)—rejected by humans but chosen by God^(B) and precious to him—

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(C) must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures^(A) to eternal life,^(B) which the Son of Man^(C) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(D) of approval.”