Zechariah 4-5

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 4

Fourth Vision: The Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees. ¹ Then the angel who spoke with me returned and aroused me, like one awakened from sleep. ² He said to me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a lampstand^[a] all of gold,^(A) with a bowl on top of it. There are seven lamps on it, with seven spouts on each of the lamps that are on top of it. ³ And beside it are two olive trees,^[b] one on the right of the bowl and one to its left.” ⁴ Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these things, my lord?” ⁵ And the angel who spoke with me replied, “Do you not know what these things are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

An Oracle. ⁶ Then he said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, and not by power, but by my spirit,^[c](B) says the Lord of hosts. ⁷ Who are you, O great mountain?^[d] Before Zerubbabel you become a plain. He will bring forth the first stone amid shouts of ‘Favor, favor be upon it!’”

⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands will finish it. Thus you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. ¹⁰ For whoever has scorned such a day of small things will rejoice to see the capstone^[e] in the hand of Zerubbabel.

Resumption of the Vision: Explanation of Lamps and Trees. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord that range over the whole earth.”^{(C) 11} I then asked him, “What are these two olive trees, on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” ¹² A second time I asked, “What are the two streams from the olive trees that pour out golden oil through two taps of gold?” ¹³ He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I answered, “No, my lord.” ¹⁴ Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones^[f] who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”^(D)

Chapter 5

Fifth Vision: The Flying Scroll. ¹ Then I raised my eyes again and saw a flying scroll. ² He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”^{[g](E) 3} Then he said to me: “This is the curse which is to go forth over the whole land. According to it, every thief and every perjurer^[h] will be expelled. ⁴ I will send it forth—oracle of the Lord of hosts—so that it will come to the house of the thief, and into the house of the one who swears falsely by my name.^(F) It shall lodge within each house, consuming it, timber and stones.”

Sixth Vision: The Basket of Wickedness. ⁵ Then the angel who spoke with me came forward and said to me, “Raise your eyes and look. What is this that comes forth?” ⁶ I said, “What is it?” And he answered, “This is the basket^[i] that is coming.” And he said, “This is their guilt in all the land.” ⁷ Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.^{[j] 8} He said, “This is Wickedness,” and he thrust her inside the basket, pushing the leaden weight into the opening.

⁹ Then I raised my eyes and saw two women coming forth with wind under their wings^[k]—they had wings like the wings of a stork—and they lifted the basket into the air. ¹⁰ I said to the angel who spoke with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” ¹¹ He replied, “To build a temple for it in the land of Shinar.^[l] When the temple is constructed, they will set it there on its base.”