Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am ¹jealous for Zion with ^agreat jealousy demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine, and I am jealous for her with great wrath against her enemies.’ 3 Thus says the LORD, ‘I shall return to Zion and will ^adwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful City of ^bTruth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘^aOld men and old women will again sit in the ¹streets (public places) of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of his advanced age. 5 And the streets of the city will be filled with ^aboys and girls playing in its streets.’ 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is ^adifficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days in which this comes to pass, will it also be ^bdifficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts. Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17, 27; Luke 18:27 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the ^aeast country and from the west, Is 43:5, 6 8 and I will ^abring them home and they will ^blive in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be ^cMy people, and I will be their God in truth (faithfulness) and in righteousness.’

9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Let your hands be ^astrong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouths of the ^bprophets who, on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, foretold that the temple might be rebuilt. 10 For before those days there were ^ano wages for man or animal; nor was there any ^bpeace or success for him who went out or came in because of his enemies, for I ^cset all men against one another. 11 But now in this time since you began to build I will ^anot treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 12 ‘For there the seed will produce ^apeace and prosperity; the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their ^bdew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess ^call these things. 13 And as you have been a ^acurse among the nations, O house of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and house of Israel (Northern Kingdom) , so I will save you, that you may be a ^bblessing. Fear not; let your ^chands be strong.’ Jer 22:8, 9

14 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Just as I ^aplanned to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I did not ^brelent, 15 so I have again planned in these days to ^ado good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ^bDo not fear! 16 These are the things which you should do: speak the ^atruth with one another; ^bjudge with truth and pronounce the judgment that brings peace in the courts at your gates. Eph 4:25 17 And let none of you ^adevise or even imagine evil in your heart against another, and do not love ^blying or half-truths; for all these things I ^chate,’ declares the LORD.”

18 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me (Zechariah) , saying, 19 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘The fast of the ^afourth month to mourn the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls, the fast of the ^bfifth month to mourn the temple’s destruction, the fast of the ^cseventh month to mourn Gedaliah’s assassination, and the fast of the ^dtenth month to mourn the siege of Jerusalem will become times of ^ejoy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so to bring this about ^flove truth and peace.’ Jer 39:2; 2+@Kin 25:1, 2, 8, 25

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will come to pass that ^apeoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come to Jerusalem. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to ^aask the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts. I will go also.” 22 So ^amany peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to ^bask the LORD for His favor.’ 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men as representatives from all the nations will ^agrasp the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘¹I am ^ajealous with great jealousy for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 Thus says Yahweh, ‘I will return to Zion and will ^adwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of ^bTruth, and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘^aOld men and old women will again sit in the ¹streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of ²age. 5 And the ¹streets of the city will be filled with ^aboys and girls playing in its ²streets.’ 6 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If it is ^1atoo difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be ^2btoo difficult in My sight?’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 7 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land where the ^1asun rises and from the land where the ²sun sets; 8 and I will ^abring them back, and they will ^bdwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be ^cMy people, and I will be their God in ¹truth and righteousness.’

9 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Let your hands be ^astrong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the ^bprophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was ^ano wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no ^1bpeace because of the adversary, and I ^cset all men one against another. 11 But now I will ^anot ¹treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 12 ‘For there will be ^apeace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their ^bdew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit ^call these things. 13 And it will be that just as you were a ^acurse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a ^bblessing. Do not fear; let your ^chands be strong.’

14 “For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Just as I ^apurposed to bring about evil to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I have not ^brelented, 15 so I have again purposed in these days to ^ado good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ^bDo not fear! 16 These are the things which you should do: speak the ^atruth to one another; ^bjudge with truth and judgment for peace in your ¹gates. 17 Also let none of you ^adevise evil in your heart against another, and do not love ^1bfalse oaths; for all these are what I ^chate,’ declares Yahweh.”

18 Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘The fast of the ^afourth, the fast of the ^bfifth, the fast of the ^cseventh, and the fast of the ^dtenth months will become ^ejoy, gladness, and ¹merry appointed feasts for the house of Judah; so ^flove truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘It will yet be that ^apeoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to ^1aentreat the favor of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh of hosts; ²I will also go.” 22 So ^amany peoples and mighty nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem and to ^1bentreat the favor of Yahweh.’ 23 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from every tongue of the nations will ^1atake hold of the ²garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am ^aexceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will ^adwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of ^bTruth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘^aOld men and old women will again sit in the ¹streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of ²age. 5 And the ¹streets of the city will be filled with ^aboys and girls playing in its ²streets.’ 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is ^1atoo difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be ^2btoo difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts. 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the ^1aeast and from the land of the ²west; 8 and I will ^abring them back and they will ^blive in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be ^cMy people, and I will be their God in ¹truth and righteousness.’

9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Let your hands be ^astrong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the ^bprophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was ^ano wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no ^1bpeace because of ²his enemies, and I ^cset all men one against another. 11 But now I will ^anot ¹treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 12 ‘For there will be ^apeace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their ^bdew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit ^call these things. 13 It will come about that just as you were a ^acurse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a ^bblessing. Do not fear; let your ^chands be strong.’

14 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Just as I ^apurposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I have not ^brelented, 15 so I have again purposed in these days to ^ado good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ^bDo not fear! 16 These are the things which you should do: speak the ^atruth to one another; ^bjudge with truth and judgment for peace in your ¹gates. 17 Also let none of you ^adevise evil in your heart against another, and do not love ^1bperjury; for all these are what I ^chate,’ declares the LORD.”

18 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘The fast of the ^afourth, the fast of the ^bfifth, the fast of the ^cseventh and the fast of the ^dtenth months will become ^ejoy, gladness, and ¹cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so ^flove truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that ^apeoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to ^aentreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; ¹I will also go.” 22 So ^amany peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to ^bentreat the favor of the LORD.’ 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the ¹nations will ^2agrasp the ³garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”