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The Vision of the Measuring Line

Then I looked up and saw a man holding a line for measuring things. I asked him, “Where are you going?”

He said to me, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”

Then the ·angel [messenger] who was talking with me left, and another ·angel [messenger] came out to meet him. The second ·angel [messenger] said to him, “Run and tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will become a city without walls, because there will be so many people and ·cattle [livestock] in it. I will be a wall of fire around it,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will be the glory within it.’

“·Oh no! Oh no [or Come! Come; or Up! Up]! Run away from ·Babylon [L the land of the north], because I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord.

“·Oh no [or Come; or Up], ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]! Escape, you who live in ·Babylon [L Daughter Babylon].” This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says: “After ·he has honored me and [or the Glorious One; or for his own glory he] sent me against the nations who ·took your possessions [plundered you]—because whoever touches you ·hurts [L touches] ·what is precious to me [T the apple of his eye; L the pupil/little man of his eye] I will ·shake my hand [raise my fist] against them so that their slaves will ·rob [plunder] them.”

Then you will know that the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] sent me.

10 “Shout and be glad, ·Jerusalem [L Daughter Zion]. [L For look/T Behold] I am coming, and I will live among you,” says the Lord. 11 “At that time people from many nations will join with the Lord and will become my people. Then I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] has sent me to you. 12 The Lord will ·take [possess; inherit] Judah as his own part of the holy land, and ·Jerusalem will be his chosen city again [L will again choose Jerusalem]. 13 Be silent, ·everyone [L all flesh], in the presence of the Lord. He ·is coming [has roused himself] out of ·the holy place where he lives [his holy dwelling].”

God’s Favor to Zion

[a]Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a (A)measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To (B)measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the (C)angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. And he said to him, “Run, speak to that (D)young man there, saying, ‘(E)Jerusalem will be inhabited (F)as open country because of the (G)multitude of people and cattle within it. But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a (H)wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the (I)glory in her midst.’”

[b]You there! (J)Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “because I have (K)spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. [c]You, Zion! (L)Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” For the Lord of armies says this: “After (M)glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the [d](N)apple of His eye. For behold, I am going to (O)wave My hand over them so that they will be (P)plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent Me. 10 (Q)Shout for joy and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will (R)dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord. 11 “And (S)many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and will become My people. Then I will (T)dwell in your midst, and you will (U)know that the Lord of armies has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will [e](V)possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again (W)choose Jerusalem.

13 [f](X)Be silent, all [g]mankind, before the Lord; for He has (Y)roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:1 Ch 2:5 in Heb
  2. Zechariah 2:6 Lit Hoy
  3. Zechariah 2:7 Lit Hoy
  4. Zechariah 2:8 Lit pupil
  5. Zechariah 2:12 Or inherit
  6. Zechariah 2:13 Lit Hush
  7. Zechariah 2:13 Lit flesh