Zechariah 2

1 And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw, and behold, a man, and in his hand was a measuring line.

Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line/tape.

2 And I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, so that I may see how great its width and how great its length may be.”

I asked him, “Where are you going?” He replied, “[I am going] to measure Jerusalem, to determine how wide it is and how long it is.”

3 And behold, the angel, who had been speaking with me, departed, and another angel went out to meet him.

Then the angel who had been talking to me started to leave, and another angel walked toward him.

4 And he said to him: Hurry, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls, because of the multitude of men and beasts of burden in its midst.

That other angel said to him, “Run and tell that young man that [some day] there will be very many people and livestock in Jerusalem, with the result that there will be too many to live inside the city walls; many will [live outside] the walls.

5 And I will be to it, says the Lord, a wall of fire all around. And in glory, I will be in its midst.

And Yahweh says that he [himself] will be [like] [MET] a wall of fire around [the city], and he will be there with his glory.”

6 O, O flee from the land of the North, says the Lord, for I have scattered you into the four winds of heaven, says the Lord.

Yahweh declares [to the people who were exiled to Babylonia], “Run! Flee from Babylonia [MTY], the country east [of Israel], and flee in all directions from the places where I caused you to be scattered!

7 O Zion, flee, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.

You people [who previously lived in] Jerusalem and who [now] live in Babylon, flee from there!

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: After the glory, he has sent me to the Gentiles, which have despoiled you. For he who touches you, touches the pupil of my eye.

The [armies of the] nations that [attacked you and] took away your valuable possessions have attacked those who are very precious to the Commander of the armies of angels [IDM]. So he says this about me: ‘After I have honored him and sent him to [rebuke] the nations,

9 For behold, I lift up my hand over them, and they will be a prey to those who had served them. And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me.

[it is as though] I will strike them with my fist, with the result that those who were their slaves will [now] take back their possessions from those who caused them to become slaves.’ And when that happens, you will know that the Commander of the armies of angels is the one who sent me.”

10 Sing praise and rejoice, daughter of Zion. For behold, I approach, and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord.

Yahweh says, “[You people of] Jerusalem [APO], shout and be happy, [because] I will be coming [to you] and I will live among you!”

11 And many nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

At that time, [people of] many nations will be united to Yahweh and will become his people. He will live among [all of] you; and you will know that the Commander of the armies of angels [is the one who] sent me to you.

12 And the Lord will possess his portion, Judah, in the sanctified land, and still he will single out Jerusalem.

[The people of] Judah will be a very special part of his sacred country, and Jerusalem will again be the city that he has chosen.

13 Let all flesh be silent before the face of the Lord: for he has arisen from his holy dwelling place.

Everyone, [everywhere, ] should be silent in the presence of Yahweh, because he [again] will come [down] from the sacred place where he lives in heaven [to do great things for us].