| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. | 1Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep. |
| 2“What do you see now?” he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. | 2“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps. |
| 3And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” | 3There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.” |
| 4Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?” | 4“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me. |
| 5“Don’t you know?” the angel asked. “No, my lord,” I replied. | 5“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered. |
| 6Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. | 6So 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. |
| 7Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ” | 7What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ” |
| 8Then another message came to me from the LORD: | 8Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, |
| 9“Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. | 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. |
| 10Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.) | 10For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” |
| 11Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, | 11Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” |
| 12and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?” | 12And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?” |
| 13“Don’t you know?” he asked. “No, my lord,” I replied. | 13“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied. |
| 14Then he said to me, “They represent the two anointed ones who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.” | 14So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.” |
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