1  I looked again, and there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2  I asked, “Where are you going?” He replied, “To measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and its length.” 3  At this point the angelic messenger who spoke to me went out, and another messenger came to meet him 4  and said to him, “Hurry, speak to this young man as follows: ‘Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls because of the multitude of people and animals there. 5  But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst.’ ”

6 “You there! Flee from the northland!” says the Lord, “for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you,” says the Lord. 7 “Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!” 8  For the Lord who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you – for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. 9 “I am about to punish them in such a way,” he says, “that they will be looted by their own slaves.” Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me.

10 “Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.” Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. 12  The Lord will take possession of Judah as his portion in the holy land and he will choose Jerusalem once again. 13  Be silent in the Lord’s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place.