The Hebrew Prophets

And they answer the messenger of Jehovah who is standing between the myrtles, and say, `We have walked up and down in the land, and lo, all the land is sitting still, and at rest.'

And the messenger of Jehovah answereth and saith, `Jehovah of Hosts! till when dost Thou not pity Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, that Thou hast abhorred these seventy years?'

And Jehovah answereth the messenger, who is speaking with me, good words, comfortable words.

And the messenger who is speaking with me, saith unto me, `Call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: I have been zealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion with great zeal.

And with great wrath I am wroth against the nations who are at ease, For I was a little wroth, and they assisted--for evil.

Therefore, thus said Jehovah: I have turned to Jerusalem with mercies, My house is built in it, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And a line is stretched over Jerusalem.

Again call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Again do my cities overflow from good, And Jehovah hath again comforted Zion, And He hath fixed again on Jerusalem.'

And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four horns.

And I say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, `What are these?' And he saith unto me, `These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.'

And Jehovah doth shew me four artisans.

And I say, `What are these coming in to do?' And He speaketh, saying: `These are the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no one hath lifted up his head, and these come in to trouble them, to cast down the horns of the nations who are lifting up a horn against the land of Judah--to scatter it.'

And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a man, and in his hand a measuring line.

And I say, `Whither are thou going?' And he saith unto me, `To measure Jerusalem, to see how much is its breadth, and how much its length.'

And lo, the messenger who is speaking with me is going out, and another messenger is going out to meet him,

and he saith unto him, `Run, speak unto this young man, saying: Unwalled villages inhabit doth Jerusalem, From the abundance of man and beast in her midst.

And I--I am to her--an affirmation of Jehovah, A wall of fire round about, And for honour I am in her midst.

Ho, ho, and flee from the land of the north, An affirmation of Jehovah, For, as the four winds of the heavens, I have spread you abroad, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Ho, Zion, be delivered who art dwelling with the daughter of Babylon.

For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: After honour He hath sent me unto the nations who are spoiling you, For he who is coming against you, Is coming against the daughter of His eye.

For lo, I am waving my hand against them, And they have been a spoil to their servants. And ye have known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me.

Singe, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, For lo, I am coming, and have dwelt in thy midst, An affirmation of Jehovah.

And joined have been many nations unto Jehovah in that day, And they have been to Me for a people, And I have dwelt in thy midst, And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me unto thee.

And Jehovah hath inherited Judah, His portion on the holy ground, And He hath fixed again on Jerusalem.

Hush, all flesh, because of Jehovah, For He hath been roused up from His holy habitation!'

And he sheweth me Joshua the high priest standing before the messenger of Jehovah, and the Adversary standing at his right hand, to be an adversary to him.