Zechariah 4

1 Then the angel I had been talking to returned and got my attention, like waking someone from sleep.

Then the angel who was talking with me turned and roused me like a man roused from his sleep.

2 “What do you see?” he asked me. “I see a lampstand made of solid gold with a bowl at its top having seven lamps on it, each with seven lips.

He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a lampstand made entirely of gold, with a bowl on its top. It has seven lamps on it and seven lamp wicks at the top of each lamp.

3 I also see olive trees, one to the right and one to the left of the bowl.”

Two olive trees are by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left side.”

4 Then I asked the angel I was talking to, “What are these, my lord?”

So I spoke again to the angel who was talking with me. I said, “What do these things mean, my master?”

5 “Don't you know what these are?” the angel replied. “No, my lord,” I responded.

The angel who was talking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these things mean?” I said, “No, my master.”

6 Then he told me, “This is the Lord's message to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty.

So he said to me, “This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says Yahweh of hosts.

7 Even obstacles as big as mountains will be flattened before Zerubbabel. Finally he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘Blessings on it!’”

What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain, and he will bring out the top stone to shouts of 'Grace! Grace to it!'”

8 Then the Lord gave me another message.

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

9 Zerubbabel with his own hands laid the foundations for this Temple, and it will be completed the same way. Then you will know the Lord Almighty has sent me.

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house and his hands will bring it to completion.” Then you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you.

10 For who dares look down on this time of small beginnings? They will be happy when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand. “The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord which see all over the world.”

Who has despised the day of small things? These people will rejoice and will see the plumb stone in the hand of Zerubbabel. (These seven lamps are the eyes of Yahweh that roam over the whole earth.)

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees that stand to the right and the left of the lampstand?”

Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees that stand on the left and the right of the lampstand?”

12 And I also asked him, “What are the two olive branches from which the golden oil pours out from through golden pipes?”

Once more I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that have golden oil pouring out of them?”

13 “Don't you know?” the angel replied. “No, my lord,” I responded.

Then he said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my master.”

14 “These are the two who have been anointed who stand by the Lord of all the earth,” he replied.

So he said, “These are the sons of fresh olive oil who stand before the Lord of all the earth.”