Zechariah 2

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

Then I looked again and I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 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.”

“Where are you going?” I asked him. “I'm going to Jerusalem to measure its width and length,” he replied.

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

The angel I was talking to came forward and another angel came to meet him

4 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.

and told him, “Run, and tell the young man that Jerusalem will have so many people and farm animals that it will be too big to have walls.”

5 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.”

The Lord declares, I myself will be a wall of fire all around the city, and I will be the glory inside it.

6 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!

Run! Run! Run away from the northern land, says the Lord, because I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven.

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

Run away, people of Zion! All of you who live in Babylon must escape.

8 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,

For this is what the Lord Almighty said: Afterwards the glorious Lord sent me against the nations that plundered you—for those who touch you touch the apple of his eye.

9 [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.”

I will raise my hand against them and their former slaves will plunder them. Then you will know the Lord Almighty has sent me.

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

Sing in celebration, people of Zion, for I am coming to live with you, declares the Lord.

11 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.

Many nations will become believers in Lord on that day, and they shall be my people. I will live among you, and you will know the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

12 [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.

The people of Judah will be the Lord's special people in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem as his special city.

13 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].

Be silent before the Lord, everyone, for he has risen from the holy place where he lives.