Zechariah 4
1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned, and he called to me as though I had been asleep.
Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.
2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a lampstand [made] completely of gold. There is a small bowl [for olive oil] at the top, and there are seven [small] lamps around the bowl, and a place for a wick on each lamp.
“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
3 Furthermore, I see two olive trees, one at the right side of the lampstand and one at the left side.”
There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who was talking with me, “Sir, what are these?”
“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.
5 He replied, “Surely you know [RHQ] what they are?” I replied, “No, I do not know.”
“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.
6 Then he said to me, “This is the message that Yahweh [says that you should give] to Zerubbabel [the governor of Judah: ‘You will do what I want you to do, but it will] not be by your own strength or power. It will be [done] by [the power of] my Spirit, says the Commander of the armies of angels.
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
7 Zerubbabel, you [have many difficult matters to handle. They are like] high mountains [MET]. But they will [become easy to handle, as though] they will become flat land. And you will bring [to the temple] the final stone [to complete the rebuilding of the temple]. When you do that, [all the people] will shout repeatedly, “It is beautiful! May God bless it!”’”
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8 Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9 He said [to me], “Zerubbabel [SYN] laid the first stone in the foundation of the temple, and he will put the last stone in its place. When that happens, the people will know that [it is I, the Commander of the armies of angels, who] have sent you to them.” And he said, “The seven bowls represent the eyes of Yahweh, who looks back and forth at everything [that happens] on the earth.”
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.
10 No one [RHQ] should think that little things that are done at the beginning of a big project are unimportant. [When the temple is almost finished being rebuilt, ] Zerubbabel will use a (plumb line/string with a stone fastened to it) [to see if the walls they are building are straight]; so when the people see that, they will rejoice.”
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What is [the meaning of] the two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand?
Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”
12 And what [the meaning of] the two olive branches, one alongside each of the gold pipes from which [olive] oil flows to the lamps?”
And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?”
13 He replied, “Surely [RHQ] you know what they are?” I replied, “No, sir, [I do not know.]”
“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied.
14 So he said, “They represent the two [men who have been] appointed [MTY] to serve the Lord who [rules] the entire earth.”
So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”
