1
Then he showed me Joshua, the chief priest, standing in front of the Messenger of the LORD. Satan the Accuser was standing at Joshua's right side to accuse him.
2
The LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, silence you, Satan! I, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, silence you! Isn't this man like a burning log snatched from a fire?"
3
Joshua was wearing filthy clothes and was standing in front of the Messenger.
4
The Messenger said to those who were standing in front of him, "Remove Joshua's filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken your sin away from you, and I will dress you in fine clothing."
5
So I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." They put a clean turban on his head and dressed him while the Messenger of the LORD was standing there.
6
The Messenger of the LORD advised Joshua,
7
"This is what the LORD of Armies says: If you live according to my ways and follow my requirements, you will govern my temple and watch over my courtyards. Then I will give you free access to walk among those standing here.
8
"Listen, Chief Priest Joshua and your friends sitting with you. These men are a sign of things to come: I'm going to bring my servant, the Branch.
9
"Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. That one stone has seven eyes. I am engraving an inscription on it," declares the LORD of Armies. "I will remove this land's sin in a single day.
10
On that day," declares the LORD of Armies, "each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree."
GOD'S WORD is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (God's Word Translation)