< Zechariah 4 >
1 Then the angel I had been talking to returned and got my attention, like waking someone from sleep.
And the messenger who is speaking with me doth turn back, and stir me up as one who is stirred up out of his sleep,
2 “What do you see?” he asked me. “I see a lampstand made of solid gold with a bowl at its top having seven lamps on it, each with seven lips.
and he saith unto me, 'What art thou seeing?' And I say, 'I have looked, and lo, a candlestick of gold — all of it, and its bowl [is] on its top, and its seven lamps [are] upon it, and twice seven pipes [are] to the lights that [are] on its top,
3 I also see olive trees, one to the right and one to the left of the bowl.”
and two olive-trees [are] by it, one on the right of the bowl, and one on its left.'
4 Then I asked the angel I was talking to, “What are these, my lord?”
And I answer and speak unto the messenger who is speaking with me, saying, 'What [are] these, my lord?'
5 “Don't you know what these are?” the angel replied. “No, my lord,” I responded.
And the messenger who is speaking with me answereth and saith unto me, 'Hast thou not known what these [are]?' And I say, 'No, my lord.'
6 Then he told me, “This is the Lord's message to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty.
And he answereth and speaketh unto me, saying: 'This [is] a word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying: Not by a force, nor by power, But — by My Spirit, said Jehovah of Hosts.
7 Even obstacles as big as mountains will be flattened before Zerubbabel. Finally he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘Blessings on it!’”
Who [art] thou, O great mountain Before Zerubbabel — for a plain! And he hath brought forth the top-stone, Cries of Grace, grace — [are] to it.'
8 Then the Lord gave me another message.
And there is a word of Jehovah to me, saying,
9 Zerubbabel with his own hands laid the foundations for this Temple, and it will be completed the same way. Then you will know the Lord Almighty has sent me.
Hands of Zerubbabel did found this house, And his hands do finish it, And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts Hath sent me unto you.
10 For who dares look down on this time of small beginnings? They will be happy when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand. “The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord which see all over the world.”
For who trampled on the day of small things, They have rejoiced, And seen the tin weight in the hand of Zerubbabel, These seven [are] the eyes of Jehovah, They are going to and fro in all the land.'
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees that stand to the right and the left of the lampstand?”
And I answer and say unto him, 'What [are] these two olive-trees, on the right of the candlestick, and on its left?'
12 And I also asked him, “What are the two olive branches from which the golden oil pours out from through golden pipes?”
And I answer a second time, and say unto him, 'What [are] the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'
13 “Don't you know?” the angel replied. “No, my lord,” I responded.
And he speaketh unto me, saying, 'Hast thou not known what these [are]?' And I say, 'No, my lord.'
14 “These are the two who have been anointed who stand by the Lord of all the earth,” he replied.
And he saith, 'These [are] the two sons of the oil, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'