New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
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I looked up and was surprised to see a man holding a tape measure in his hand.
2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
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I said, "What are you up to?" "I'm on my way," he said, "to survey Jerusalem, to measure its width and length."
3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him
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Just then the Messenger-Angel on his way out
4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it.
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and said, "Run! Tell the Surveyor, 'Jerusalem will burst its walls - bursting with people, bursting with animals.
5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
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And I'll be right there with her' - God's Decree - 'a wall of fire around unwalled Jerusalem and a radiant presence within.'"
6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.
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"Up on your feet! Get out of there - and now!" God says so. "Return from your far exile. I scattered you to the four winds." God's Decree.
7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!”
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"Escape from Babylon, Zion, and come home - now!"
8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—
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God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the One of Glory who sent me on my mission, commenting on the godless nations who stripped you and left you homeless, said, "Anyone who hits you, hits me - bloodies my nose, blackens my eye.
9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.
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Yes, and at the right time I'll give the signal and they'll be stripped and thrown out by their own servants." Then you'll know for sure that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.
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"Shout and celebrate, Daughter of Zion! I'm on my way. I'm moving into your neighborhood!" God's Decree.
11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
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Many godless nations will be linked up with God at that time. ("They will become my family! I'll live in their homes!") And then you'll know for sure that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission.
12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.
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God will reclaim his Judah inheritance in the Holy Land. He'll again make clear that Jerusalem is his choice.
13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
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Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something's afoot in his holy house. He's on the move!
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.