Zechariah 4

1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned, and he called to me as though I had been asleep.

And the angel who had been speaking with me returned, and he awakened me, like a man who 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.

And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I looked, and behold, a candlestick entirely in gold, and its lamp was at its top, and seven oil lamps of it were upon it, and there were seven funnels for the oil lamps that were at its top.

3 Furthermore, I see two olive trees, one at the right side of the lampstand and one at the left side.”

And there were two olive trees upon it: one to the right of the lamp, and one to its left.”

4 I asked the angel who was talking with me, “Sir, what are these?”

And I answered and spoke to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

5 He replied, “Surely you know [RHQ] what they are?” I replied, “No, I do not know.”

And the angel who was speaking with me answered, and he said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

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.

And he answered and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying: Not by an army, nor by might, but in 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, great mountain, in the sight of Zerubbabel? You are among the plains. And he will lead out the primary stone, and he will give equal grace to its grace.

8 Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.

And 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 hand of Zerubbabel has founded this house, and his hands will complete it. And 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 little days? And they will rejoice and will see the silver and lead stone in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the seven eyes of the Lord, which roam quickly through all the earth.

11 Then I asked the angel, “What is [the meaning of] the two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand?

And I responded and said to him, “What are these two olive trees to the right of the candlestick, and to its left?”

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 responded a second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches, which are next to the two golden ridges, in which are the pouring spouts of gold?”

13 He replied, “Surely [RHQ] you know what they are?” I replied, “No, sir, [I do not know.]”

And he spoke to me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

14 So he said, “They represent the two [men who have been] appointed [MTY] to serve the Lord who [rules] the entire earth.”

And he said, “These are the two sons of oil, who attend before the Sovereign of all the earth.”