Zechariah 2
1 Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line/tape.
Then I looked up and 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.”
I said, ‘Where are you going?’ He replied, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and length.’
3 Then the angel who had been talking to me started to leave, and another angel walked toward him.
Then the messenger who talked with me stepped forward, and another messenger went out 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 said to him, ‘Run and tell to that young man that Jerusalem will be inhabited like a village without walls, because so many people and cattle will live there.
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.”
For I, says the Lord, will be a wall of fire her, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.
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!
Up! Away! Flee from the land of the north, says the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says the Lord.
7 You people [who previously lived in] Jerusalem and who [now] live in Babylon, flee from there!
Up, escape to Zion, you who live in Babylon.
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,
This is what the Lord of hosts says to the nations which plundered you: Whoever touches you touches the apple of my 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. They will be plunder for their own slaves; and you will know that the Lord of hosts 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 and rejoice, daughter of Zion! I am coming, I will live among you, says 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 join themselves to the Lord in that day, and will be his people, and he will live among you. You will know that the Lord of hosts 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 Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land. He will again choose Jerusalem.
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, everyone, in the presence of the Lord, because he is coming from his holy dwelling.’
