“‘ So the Lord says,“ I will return to Jerusalem. I will show its people my tender love. My temple will be rebuilt there. Workers will use a measuring line when they rebuild Jerusalem,” announces the Lord.

所以耶和华如此说：‘现今我回到耶路撒冷，仍施怜悯，我的殿必重建在其中，准绳必拉在耶路撒冷之上。’这是万军之耶和华说的。

所以耶和华如此说：现在我回到耶路撒冷，仍要施怜悯，我的殿要重建在其中，准绳必拉在耶路撒冷之上。这是万军之耶和华说的。

所以耶和华如此说：现在我回到耶路撒冷，仍要施怜悯，我的殿要重建在其中，准绳必拉在耶路撒冷之上。这是万军之耶和华说的。

因此，耶和华说，‘我必怀着怜悯的心回到耶路撒冷，我的殿必在那里重建，必有准绳丈量耶路撒冷。这是万军之耶和华说的。’

因此，耶和华这样说：我要怀着怜悯的心回到耶路撒冷，我的殿必在城中重建（这是万军之耶和华的宣告）。绳子必拉在耶路撒冷之上。’

所以耶和華如此說：現今我回到耶路撒冷，仍施憐憫，我的殿必重建在其中，準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

所以耶和華如此說：現在我回到耶路撒冷，仍要施憐憫，我的殿要重建在其中，準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

所以耶和華如此說：現在我回到耶路撒冷，仍要施憐憫，我的殿要重建在其中，準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

因此，耶和華說，『我必懷著憐憫的心回到耶路撒冷，我的殿必在那裡重建，必有準繩丈量耶路撒冷。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』

因此，耶和華這樣說：我要懷著憐憫的心回到耶路撒冷，我的殿必在城中重建（這是萬軍之耶和華的宣告）。繩子必拉在耶路撒冷之上。’

因此萬軍之永恆主這麼說：我懷着憐憫的心回到耶路撒冷來；我的殿必重建於其中，萬軍之永恆主發神諭說；準繩必拉開在耶路撒冷之上。

因此耶和華如此說：我在憐憫中回到了耶路撒冷，我的殿必在城中重建，準繩必拉在耶路撒冷之上。』這是萬軍之耶和華的宣告。

故耶和華云、我以矜憫而返耶路撒冷、我室必建其中、引繩於耶路撒冷、萬軍之耶和華言之矣、

故我耶和華復臨耶路撒冷、而矜憫之、以繩量度、建我殿於其中、我萬有之主耶和華已言之矣。

故主如是云、我必施矜憫、復臨耶路撒冷、或作故主如是云我必復施矜憫歸耶路撒冷我之殿必復建在其中、必復用準繩、建築耶路撒冷之城垣、此乃萬有之主所言、

“ Therefore this is what the Lord says:‘ I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.

“‘ Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.’

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; my house will be rebuilt within it— this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies— and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Therefore the Lord says this:“ I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of armies,“ and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.” ’

‘ Therefore thus says the Lord:“ I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,“ And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’

Therefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem.

Therefore, this is what the Lord says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it”— this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“ and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

“‘ Therefore,’ says the LORD,‘ I have become compassionate toward Jerusalem and will rebuild my temple in it,’ says the LORD who rules over all.‘ Once more a surveyor’s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’

Therefore Yahweh says:“ I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it,” says Yahweh of Armies,“ and a line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’

He continued,“ I will return to Zion. I will live among my people in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City. And my mountain will be called the Holy Mountain.”

“‘ People of Zion, shout and be glad! I am coming to live among you,’ announces the Lord.‘ At that time many nations will join themselves to me. And they will become my people. I will live among you,’ says the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you.

For a moment I turned my face away from you. I was very angry with you. But I will show you my loving concern. My faithful love will continue forever,” says the Lord. He is the one who set you free.“ During Noah’s time I made a promise. I said I would never cover the earth with water again. In the same way, I have promised not to be angry with you. I will never punish you again.The mountains might shake. The hills might be removed. But my faithful love for you will never be shaken. And my covenant that promises peace to you will never be removed,” says the Lord. He shows you his loving concern.

“ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple. His hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you.

The elders of the Jews continued to build the temple. They enjoyed great success because of the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo. The people finished building the temple. That’s what the God of Israel had commanded them to do. Cyrus and Darius had given orders allowing them to do it. Later, Artaxerxes supplied many things that were needed in the temple. Those three men were kings of Persia.So the temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar. It was in the sixth year that Darius was king.

Then the man went toward the east. He had a measuring line in his hand. He measured off 1,700 feet. He led me through water that was up to my ankles.

Then I looked up and saw a man. He was holding a measuring line.“ Where are you going?” I asked.“ To measure Jerusalem,” he answered.“ I want to find out how wide and how long it is.”

“‘ “A man who belongs to the family line of my servant David will be their king. All of them will have one shepherd. They will obey my laws. And they will be careful to keep my rules.They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob. That is where your people of long ago lived. They, their children, their children’s children, and their children after them will live there forever. And my servant from David’s family line will be their prince forever.I will make a covenant with them. It promises to give them peace. The covenant will last forever. I will make them my people. And I will cause there to be many of them. I will put my temple among them forever.I will live with them. I will be their God. And they will be my people.My temple will be among them forever. Then the nations will know that I make Israel holy. I am the Lord.” ’ ”

He took me there. I saw a man who appeared to be made out of bronze. He was standing at the gate of the outer courtyard. He was holding a linen measuring tape and a measuring rod.

Who measured it? I am sure you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

The Lord and King says,“ I will now cause the people of Jacob to recover from my judgment. I will show my tender love for all the people of Israel. I will make sure that my name is kept holy.My people will forget the shameful things they have done. They will not remember all the ways they were unfaithful to me. They used to live in safety in their land. At that time no one made them afraid.So I will bring them back from the nations. I will gather them from the countries of their enemies. And I will use them to prove to many nations how holy I am.Then they will know that I am the Lord their God. I let the nations take my people away as prisoners. But now I will bring them back to their own land. I will not leave anyone behind.I will no longer turn my face away from the people of Israel. I will pour out my Spirit on them,” announces the Lord and King.

In days to come, the people of Israel will sing,“ Lord, we will praise you. You were angry with us. But now your anger has turned away from us. And you have brought us comfort.

“ The city will be six miles around.“ From that time on, its name will be‘ The Lord Is There.’ ”

I make the words of my servants the prophets come true. I carry out what my messengers say will happen.“ I say about Jerusalem,‘ My people will live there again.’ I say about the towns of Judah,‘ They will be rebuilt.’ I say about their broken- down buildings,‘ I will make them like new again.’I say to the deep waters,‘ Dry up. Let your streams become dry.’I say about Cyrus,‘ He is my shepherd. He will accomplish everything I want him to. He will say about Jerusalem,“ Let it be rebuilt.” And he will say about the temple,“ Let its foundations be laid.” ’

The measuring line will reach out from there. It will go straight to the hill of Gareb. Then it will turn and reach as far as Goah.There is a valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown. That whole valley will be holy to me. The side of the Kidron Valley east of the city will be holy to me. It will be holy all the way to the corner of the Horse Gate. The city will never again be pulled up by the roots. It will never be destroyed.”

How long will you wander, my people Israel, who are not faithful to me? I will create a new thing on earth. The woman will return to the man.”The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ I will bring them back from the place where they were taken. Here is what the people in Judah and its towns will say once again.‘ May the Lord bless you, you successful city. Sacred mountain, may he bless you.’People will live together in Judah and all its towns. Farmers and shepherds will live there.I will give rest to those who are tired. I will satisfy those who are weak.”

The desert owl and screech owl will make it their home. The great owl and the raven will build their nests there. God will use his measuring line to show how completely Edom will be destroyed. He will use his plumb line to show how empty Edom will become.

The Lord says,“ You say about this place,‘ It’s a dry and empty desert. It doesn’t have any people or animals in it.’ The towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are now deserted. So they do not have any people or animals living in them. But happy sounds will be heard there once more.They will be the sounds of joy and gladness. The voices of brides and grooms will fill the streets. And the voices of those who bring thank offerings to my house will be heard there. They will say,“‘ Give thanks to the Lord who rules over all, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.’ That’s because I will bless this land with great success again. It will be as it was before,” says the Lord.The Lord who rules over all says,“ This place is a desert. It does not have any people or animals in it. But there will again be grasslands near all its towns. Shepherds will rest their flocks there.

So the Lord stirred up the spirits of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua the high priest. The Lord also stirred up the rest of the people to help them. Then everyone began to work on the temple of the Lord who rules over all. He is their God.