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 messenger who talked with me came again and woke me, as someone who is woken from 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.

He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a candlestick, all of gold, with a bowl on its top, and seven lamps on it. There are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which 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 next to it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on its left side.”

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

I said to the messenger who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

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

Then the messenger who talked with me answered, “Don’t you 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.

He said to me, “This is the message of the Lord regarding 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!”’”

will I make the great mountain before Zerubbabel a plain. He will bring forth the top stones with shoutings of, ‘Grace, grace, to it.’”

8 Then Yahweh gave me [another] message.

Moreover this message of the Lord came to me:

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. His hands will also finish 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? They will rejoice, and will see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (The seven lamps are the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)

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

Again I asked, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick and on its left side?”

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?”

Again, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are pouring out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?”

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

He answered me, “Don’t you now 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.”

Then he explained, “They are the two anointed ones who attend the Lord of all the earth.”