Zechariah 2

1 Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line/tape.

I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 I asked him, “Where are you going?” He replied, “[I am going] to measure Jerusalem, to determine how wide it is and how long it is.”

Then said I, Where goest thou? And he said to me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth, and what is its length.

3 Then the angel who had been talking to me started to leave, and another angel walked toward him.

And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,

4 That other angel said to him, “Run and tell that young man that [some day] there will be very many people and livestock in Jerusalem, with the result that there will be too many to live inside the city walls; many will [live outside] the walls.

And said to him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it:

5 And Yahweh says that he [himself] will be [like] [MET] a wall of fire around [the city], and he will be there with his glory.”

For I, saith the LORD, will be to her a wall of fire on every side, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

6 Yahweh declares [to the people who were exiled to Babylonia], “Run! Flee from Babylonia [MTY], the country east [of Israel], and flee in all directions from the places where I caused you to be scattered!

Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

7 You people [who previously lived in] Jerusalem and who [now] live in Babylon, flee from there!

Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

8 The [armies of the] nations that [attacked you and] took away your valuable possessions have attacked those who are very precious to the Commander of the armies of angels [IDM]. So he says this about me: ‘After I have honored him and sent him to [rebuke] the nations,

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me to the nations which wasted you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

9 [it is as though] I will strike them with my fist, with the result that those who were their slaves will [now] take back their possessions from those who caused them to become slaves.’ And when that happens, you will know that the Commander of the armies of angels is the one who sent me.”

For, behold, I will shake my hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

10 Yahweh says, “[You people of] Jerusalem [APO], shout and be happy, [because] I will be coming [to you] and I will live among you!”

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

11 At that time, [people of] many nations will be united to Yahweh and will become his people. He will live among [all of] you; and you will know that the Commander of the armies of angels [is the one who] sent me to you.

And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to thee.

12 [The people of] Judah will be a very special part of his sacred country, and Jerusalem will again be the city that he has chosen.

And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

13 Everyone, [everywhere, ] should be silent in the presence of Yahweh, because he [again] will come [down] from the sacred place where he lives in heaven [to do great things for us].

Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.