New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep.
1
The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.
2 He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
2
He said, "What do you see?"
3 And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
3
And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl."
4 I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
4
Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, "What does this mean, sir?"
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
5
The Messenger-Angel said, "Can't you tell?" "No, sir," I said.
6 He said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
6
"This is God's Message to Zerubbabel: 'You can't force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,' says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of "Grace, grace to it!' "
7
'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'"
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
8
After that, the Word of God came to me:
9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
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"Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you.
10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."
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Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!"
11 Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
11
"And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?" I asked. "What's the meaning of them?
12 And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?"
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And while you're at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps - what do they mean?"
13 He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
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He said, "You haven't figured that out?" I said, "No, sir."
14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
14
He said, "These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.