The Vision of the Measuring Line (Ezekiel 40:1–4)
1 UDB Then I looked up and saw a man with a surveyor's line. BSB BSB: Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 UDB I asked him, "Where are you going?" He replied, "I am going to survey Jerusalem, to determine how wide it is and how long it is." BSB BSB: “Where are you going?” I asked. “To measure Jerusalem,” he replied, “and to determine its width and length.”
3 UDB Then the angel who had been talking to me started to leave, and another angel walked toward him. BSB BSB: Then the angel who was speaking with me went forth, and another angel came forward to meet him
4 UDB The second angel said to him, "Run and tell that young man with the surveyor's line: On that day there will be very many people and livestock in Jerusalem, so they will not all be able to live inside the city walls; many will live outside the walls in the open country. BSB BSB: and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it.
5 UDB Yahweh says that he himself will be like a wall of fire around the city, and he will be among the people with his glory." BSB BSB: For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
The Redemption of Zion (Hosea 3:1–5)
6 UDB Yahweh declares to the people who the Babylonians took away as slaves: "Run! Run! Flee from Babylonia, and flee from the places where I scattered you to the four winds!" BSB BSB: “Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.
7 UDB Run! You who now live in Babylon, run here to Jerusalem!" BSB BSB: “Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!”
8 UDB Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, honored me by telling me to go to the nations who took everything you owned, for those who harm you harm what is most precious to him! After he did that, he said this to me: BSB BSB: For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
9 UDB "Tell them that I, Yahweh, will attack them. Their own slaves will take back their possessions from them, the people who had taken them in the first place." When that happens, you Jewish people will know that Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, is the one who sent me, Zechariah, as a prophet. BSB BSB: I will surely wave My hand over them, so that they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me.”
10 UDB Yahweh says, "You people of Jerusalem, shout and be happy, because I will come to you and live among you!" BSB BSB: “Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD.
11 UDB At that time, people of many nations will join with Yahweh and become his people. He will live among all of you; and you will know that Yahweh, powerful Commander of the angel armies, is the one who sent me to you as a prophet. BSB BSB: “On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
12 UDB The people of Judah will be a very special part of his own land, and Jerusalem will again be the city that he has chosen. BSB BSB: And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem.
13 UDB Everyone, everywhere, should be silent in the presence of Yahweh, because he is about to come down again from where he lives in heaven to do great things for us. BSB BSB: Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”