< Zechariah 2 >
1 And I lifted up eyes my and I saw and there! a man and [was] in hand his a cord of measurement.
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 to see how much? [is] breadth its and how much? [is] length its.
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 there! the angel who was speaking with me [was] going out and an angel another [was] going 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 *Q(k)*) run speak to the young man this saying open regions it will remain Jerusalem from [the] multitude of person[s] and livestock in [the] midst of it.
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 I will be to it [the] utterance of Yahweh a wall of fire all around and glory I will become in [the] middle of it.
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 Alas! alas! flee from [the] land of [the] north [the] utterance of Yahweh that like [the] four [the] winds of the heavens I have scattered you [the] utterance of 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 Alas! O Zion escape O inhabitant[s] of [the] daughter of Babylon.
You people [who previously lived in] Jerusalem and who [now] live in Babylon, flee from there!
8 For thus he says Yahweh of hosts after honor he has sent me to the nations who plundered you for the [one who] touches you [is] touching [the] pupil of eye his.
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 here I [am] about to brandish hand my on them and they will be plunder for own slaves their and you will know that Yahweh of hosts he 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 Shout for joy and rejoice O daughter of Zion for here I [am] about to come and I will dwell in midst of you [the] utterance of 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 And they will join themselves nations many to Yahweh in the day that and they will become for me a people and I will dwell in midst of you and you will know that Yahweh of hosts he 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 he will inherit Yahweh Judah portion his on [the] land of holiness and he will choose again 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! O all flesh from before Yahweh for he has roused himself from [the] dwelling place of holiness his.
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].