The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees 1 UST Then the angel who had been talking with me came back and woke me up. I had been thinking deeply, as though I had fallen asleep. BSB BSB: Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.
2 UST He asked me,“What do you see?” I replied,“I see a lampstand made completely of gold. It has a small bowl for olive oil at the top, and seven lamps around the bowl, with seven channels going to each of the seven lamps that are on top of it. BSB BSB: “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.
3 UST I also see two olive trees beside it, one olive tree on the right side of the bowl and one olive tree on its left side.” BSB BSB: There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 UST I asked the angel who was talking with me,“Sir, what do these things mean?” BSB BSB: “What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.
5 UST The angel replied,“You really should know what they mean!” I answered,“No, sir, I do not know.” BSB BSB: “Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.
6 UST Then the angel said to me,“This is the message that Yahweh has for Zerubbabel,‘You will not accomplish this by being strong or by your own efforts. Instead, my Spirit will accomplish it,’ says Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies. BSB BSB: So 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.
7 UST Every great difficulty that stands in front of Zerubbabel will disappear! He will set the final stone of the temple in its place, and all the people will shout,‘How beautiful! May God bless it!’ BSB BSB: What 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!’”
8 UST Then Yahweh gave me another message. BSB BSB: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9 UST He said,‘Zerubbabel began the work of rebuilding this temple, and he will finish it.’ When that happens, you will know that Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies, sent me to you people. BSB BSB: “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.
10 UST No one should think that the small beginnings of a big project are unimportant. People will be happy when they see Zerubbabel holding the plumb line as he checks the walls. Those seven lamps represent how Yahweh watches over everything that happens on the whole earth.” BSB BSB: For 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.”
11 UST Then I asked the angel,“What do the two olive trees on each side of the lampstand mean? BSB BSB: Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”
12 UST In particular, what do the two olive branches that are beside the two gold pipes that pour out olive oil mean?” BSB BSB: And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?”
13 UST He said to me,“You really should know what these things mean!” I replied,“No, sir, I do not know.” BSB BSB: “Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied.
14 UST So he said,“They represent the two people whom God has anointed to serve the Lord who rules over the whole earth.” BSB BSB: So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”