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 messenger who is speaking with me turns back, and stirs me up as one who is stirred up out of 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 says to me, “What are you seeing?” And I say, “I have looked, and behold, a lampstand of gold—all of it, and its bowl [is] on its top, and its seven lamps [are] on it, and twice seven pipes [are] to the lights that [are] on its top,

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

and two olive-trees [are] by it, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.”

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

And I answer and speak to the messenger who is 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 messenger who is speaking with me answers and says to me, “Have you not known what these [are]?” And I say, “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 answers and speaks to me, saying, “This [is] a word of YHWH to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by a force, nor by power, But—by My Spirit, said YHWH 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!”’”

Who [are] you, O great mountain Before Zerubbabel—for a plain! And he has brought forth the top-stone, Cries of Grace, grace—[are] to it.”

8 Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.

And there is a word of YHWH 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.”

“Hands of Zerubbabel founded this house, And his hands finish it, And you have known that YHWH 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 trampled on the day of small things, They have rejoiced, And seen the tin weight in the hand of Zerubbabel, These seven [are] the eyes of YHWH, They are going to and fro in all the land.”

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

And I answer and say to him, “What [are] these two olive-trees, on the right of the lampstand, and on 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 answer a second time, and say to him, “What [are] the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?”

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

And he speaks to me, saying, “Have you not known what these [are]?” And I say, “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 says, “These [are] the two sons of the oil, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”