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Third Vision: The Man with a Measuring Line

[a]I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.(A) Then I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”(B) Then the angel who spoke with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, “Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like unwalled villages because of the multitude of people and animals in it.(C) For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it.”(D)

Interlude: An Appeal to the Exiles

Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the Lord.(E) Up! Escape to Zion, you who live with daughter Babylon. For thus said the Lord of hosts after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.[b](F) For I am going to raise[c] my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me.(G) 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord.(H) 11 Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day and shall be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.(I)

13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.(J)

Footnotes

  1. 2.1 2.5 in Heb
  2. 2.8 Heb his eye
  3. 2.9 Or wave

Third night vision

[a] Then I looked up and saw a man.

In his hand was a measuring line.
I said, “Where are you going?”
He said to me,
    “To measure Jerusalem to see how wide and long it will be.”
As I watched, the messenger speaking with me went ahead and another messenger came to meet him.
He said to him,
    “Run! Say to this young man:
        Jerusalem will be inhabited like open fields
            because of the throngs of people and cattle inside it.
        But I will be a wall of fire around it, says the Lord,
            and I will be glorious inside it.
        Look out; look out! Flee from the land of the north, says the Lord,
            for I will scatter you like the four winds of heaven, says the Lord.
        Look out, Zion.
            Flee, you who dwell with Daughter Babylon!
The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims (after his glory sent me)[b]
        concerning the nations plundering you:
            Those who strike you strike the pupil of my eye.
        But look, I am about to raise my hand against them;
            they will become prey to their own slaves,
                so you will know that the Lord of heavenly forces sent me.
10 Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Zion,
        because I am about to come and dwell among you, says the Lord.
11 Many nations will be joined to the Lord on that day.
        They will become my people,
            and I will dwell among you
            so you will know that the Lord of heavenly forces sent me to you.”
12     The Lord will possess Judah as his inheritance upon the holy land;
            he will again choose Jerusalem.
13 Be silent, everyone, in the Lord’s
        presence, because he has moved from his holy habitation!

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:1 2:5 in Heb
  2. Zechariah 2:8 Heb uncertain