Zechariah 2
1 Then lifted I up mine eyes and looked, and lo! a Man, —and, in his hand, a Measuring Line.
Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line/tape.
2 And I said, Whither art thou going? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what [should be] the breadth thereof, and what the length thereof.
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 lo! the messenger who was talking with me, coming forward, —and another messenger, coming forward to meet him.
Then the angel who had been talking to me started to leave, and another angel walked toward him.
4 So he said unto him, Run, speak unto this young man, saying: Like open villages, shall Jerusalem remain, for the multitude of men and cattle in her 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 become to her, declareth Yahweh, A wall of fire round about, —and, a glory, will I become in her 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 Ho! ho! flee ye, therefore, out of the land of the North, urgeth Yahweh. For, as the four winds of the heavens, have I spread you abroad, declareth Yahweh.
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 Ho! Zion, deliver thyself, —thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For,
You people [who previously lived in] Jerusalem and who [now] live in Babylon, flee from there!
8 Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, For his own honour, hath he sent me unto the nations that are spoiling you, —Surely, he that toucheth you, toucheth the pupil of mine 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 me! brandishing my hand over them, and they shall become a spoil unto their own slaves, —and ye shall know that, Yahweh of hosts, hath 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 out and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, —For behold me! coming in, and I will make my habitation in thy midst, declareth Yahweh.
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 Then shall many nations, join themselves, unto Yahweh, in that day, and shall become my people, —and I will make my habitation in thy midst, so shalt thou know that, Yahweh of hosts, hath sent me unto thee.
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 Thus will Yahweh inherit Judah, his portion, on the soil of the sanctuary, —and make choice, yet again, of 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 Hush! all flesh, before Yahweh, —For he hath roused himself up out of his holy dwelling.
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].
