A Vision of a Man Holding a Measuring Line
1Then I looked up and saw a man. He was holding a measuring line. 2“Where are you going?” I asked.
“To measure Jerusalem,” he answered. “I want to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3The angel who was talking with me was leaving. At that time, another angel came over to him. 4He said to him, “Run! Tell that young man Zechariah, ‘Jerusalem will be a city that does not have any walls around it. It will have huge numbers of people and animals in it. 5And I myself will be like a wall of fire around it,’ announces the Lord. ‘I will be the city’s glory.’
6“Israel, I have scattered you,” announces the Lord. “I have used the power of the four winds of heaven to do it. Come quickly! Run away from the land of the north,” announces the Lord.
7“Come, people of Zion! Escape, you who live in Babylon!” 8The Lord rules over all. His angel says to Israel, “The Glorious One has sent me to punish the nations that have robbed you of everything. That’s because anyone who hurts you hurts those the Lord loves and guards. 9So I will raise my powerful hand to strike down your enemies. Their own slaves will rob them of everything. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me.
10“ ‘People of Zion, shout and be glad! I am coming to live among you,’ announces the Lord. 11‘At that time many nations will join themselves to me. And they will become my people. I will live among you,’ says the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. 12He will receive Judah as his share in the holy land. And he will choose Jerusalem again. 13All you people of the world, be still because the Lord is coming. He is getting ready to come down from his holy temple in heaven.”
Munthu ndi Chingwe Choyezera
1Kenaka ndinayangʼananso, ndipo ndinaona munthu atanyamula chingwe choyezera mʼmanja mwake. 2Ndipo ndinafunsa kuti, “Kodi ukupita kuti?”
Anandiyankha kuti, “Akukayeza Yerusalemu kuti ndidziwe mulifupi mwake ndi mulitali mwake.”
3Taonani, mngelo amene amayankhula nane uja akuchoka, mngelo wina anabwera kudzakumana naye 4ndipo anamuwuza kuti, “Thamanga, kamuwuze mnyamatayo kuti, ‘Yerusalemu udzakhala mzinda wopanda malinga chifukwa mudzakhala anthu ambiri ndiponso ziweto zochuluka. 5Ndipo Ine mwini ndidzakhala linga lamoto kuteteza mzindawo,’ akutero Yehova, ‘ndipo ndidzakhala ulemerero mʼkati mwake.’
6“Tulukani! Tulukani! Thawaniko ku dziko la kumpoto,” akutero Yehova, “pakuti ndinakumwazirani ku mphepo zinayi zamlengalenga,” akutero Yehova.
7“Tuluka, iwe Ziyoni! Thawa, iwe amene umakhala mʼdziko la mwana wamkazi wa Babuloni!” 8Pakuti Yehova Wamphamvuzonse akuti, “Atatha kundilemekeza wanditumiza kwa anthu a mitundu ina amene anakufunkhani; pakuti aliyense wokhudza inu wakhudza mwanadiso wanga. 9Ndithu Ine ndidzawamenya anthuwo ndi dzanja langa ndipo amene anali akapolo awo ndiye adzawalande zinthu. Pamenepo mudzadziwa kuti Yehova Wamphamvuzonse ndiye wandituma.
10“Iwe mwana wamkazi wa Ziyoni, fuwula ndipo sangalala. Pakuti taona ndikubwera, ndipo ndidzakhala pakati pako,” akutero Yehova. 11“Nthawi imeneyo anthu a mitundu yambiri adzabwera kwa Yehova ndipo adzasanduka anthu anga. Ndidzakhala pakati pako ndipo iwe udzadziwa kuti Yehova Wamphamvuzonse wandituma kwa iwe. 12Yehova adzachititsa kuti Yuda akhale chuma chake mʼdziko lopatulika ndipo adzasankhanso Yerusalemu. 13Khalani chete pamaso pa Yehova anthu nonse, chifukwa Iye wavumbuluka kuchoka ku malo ake opatulika.”
