God’s Favor to Zion

1And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it. 5For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6“[a]Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD. 7“Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape, [b]you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!” 8For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After [c]glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you--for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. 10Sing for joy and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD. 11“Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 12The LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13“Be still before the LORD, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”

[a] 6 Lit Hoy, hoy, also v 7, an exclamation of impending disaster.
[b] 7 Those Jews who voluntarily remained in exile in Babylon after the decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C. were considered adulterers because of their relationship with the Gentiles.
[c] 8 I.e. the Messiah’s first and second advents, Matt 25:31-46.