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What the Lord Will Do for Zion

Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

I am very jealous about Zion.
    I am fiercely possessive of it.

This is what Yahweh says:

I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem.
    Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth.
    The mountain of Yahweh Tsebaoth will be called the holy mountain.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
    Each will have a cane in hand because of old age.
The city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

It may seem impossible to the few remaining people in those days,
    but will it seem impossible to me? declares Yahweh Tsebaoth.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

I am going to save my people
    from the land where the sun rises
        and from the land where the sun sets.
I will bring them back, and they will live in Jerusalem.
    They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, who is faithful and just.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

Be strong so that the temple might be rebuilt,
    you people who are presently listening
        to the words from the mouths of the prophets
            who spoke when the foundation
                for the house of Yahweh Tsebaoth was laid.
10 Before that time there was no money to hire any person or animal.
    No one who traveled was safe from the enemy.
        I turned every person against his neighbor.
11 But now I won’t deal with the few remaining people
    as I did in earlier times, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth.
12 Seeds will thrive in peacetime.
    Vines will produce their grapes.
        The land will yield its crops.
            The sky will produce its dew.
    I will give the few remaining people
    all these things as an inheritance.
13 Just as you, people of Judah and people of Israel,
    have been a curse among the nations,
        so I will now save you,
            and you will become a blessing.
    Don’t be afraid. Let your hands work hard.

14 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

When your ancestors made me angry,
    I made plans to destroy you, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth,
        and I didn’t change my plans.
15 So now I have again made plans, but this time to do good
    to Jerusalem and the people of Judah.
    Don’t be afraid.
16 You must do these things:
    Speak the truth to each other.
    Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.
17 Don’t even think of doing evil to each other.
    Don’t enjoy false testimony.
        I hate all these things, declares Yahweh.

Many Nations Will Come to the Lord’s People

18 Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word to me again.

19 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

The fast in the fourth month, the fast in the fifth month,
    the fast in the seventh month, and the fast in the tenth month
    will become joyful and glad occasions
        as well as happy festivals for the nation of Judah.
            So love truth and peace.

20 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

People and citizens from many cities are going to come.
21 The citizens of one city will come to another city, saying,
    “Let’s make a habit of going to ask Yahweh for a blessing
        and to seek Yahweh Tsebaoth.
            I’m also going.”
22 Many people and powerful nations will come
    to seek Yahweh Tsebaoth in Jerusalem
        and to ask Yahweh for a blessing.

23 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:

In those days ten people from every language found among the nations
    will take hold of the clothes of a Jew. They will say,
        “Let us go with you
            because we have heard that Elohim is with you.”

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

This is what the Lord says: “I will return(B) to Zion(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.(D) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(E) and the mountain(F) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(G)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,(H) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.(I)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,(J) but will it seem marvelous to me?(K)” declares the Lord Almighty.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.(L) I will bring them back(M) to live(N) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(O) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(P)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(Q) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(R) said who were present when the foundation(S) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(T) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(U) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(V) declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(W) the ground will produce its crops,(X) and the heavens will drop their dew.(Y) I will give all these things as an inheritance(Z) to the remnant of this people.(AA) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](AB) among the nations, so I will save(AC) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](AD) Do not be afraid,(AE) but let your hands be strong.(AF)

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(AG) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(AH) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(AI) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(AJ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(AK) in your courts;(AL) 17 do not plot evil(AM) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(AN) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(AO) fifth,(AP) seventh(AQ) and tenth(AR) months will become joyful(AS) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(AT) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(AU) the Lord and seek(AV) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(AW)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed