Then the word of the LORD of armies came, saying, 2 “The LORD of armies says this: ‘I am ^aexceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 The LORD says this: ‘I will return to Zion and ^adwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of ^bTruth, and the mountain of the LORD of armies will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 The LORD of armies says this: ‘^aOld men and old women will again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each person with his staff in his hand because of ¹age. 5 And the public squares of the city will be filled with ^aboys and girls playing in its squares.’ 6 The LORD of armies says this: ‘If it is ^atoo difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be ^btoo difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of armies. 7 The LORD of armies says this: ‘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 “The LORD of armies says this: ‘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 armies was laid, so that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was ^ano wage for man nor any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no ^1bpeace because of ²his enemies, and I ^csent all the people against one another. 11 But now I will ^anot ¹treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of armies. 12 ‘For there will be ^athe seed of peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will provide their ^bdew; and I will give to the remnant of this people ^call these things as an inheritance. 13 And it will come about that just as you were a ^acurse among the nations, 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 this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Just as I ^adetermined to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,’ says the LORD of armies, ‘and I have not ^brelented, 15 so I have again determined in these days to ^ado good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ^bDo not fear! 16 These are the things which you shall do: speak the ^atruth to one another; ^bjudge with truth and judgment for peace at your ¹gates. 17 Also let none of you ^adevise evil in your heart against another, and do not love ^1bperjury; for all these things are what I ^chate,’ declares the LORD.”

18 Then the word of the LORD of armies came to me, saying, 19 “The LORD of armies says this: ‘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, jubilation, and ¹cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; so ^flove truth and peace.’

20 “The LORD of armies says this: ‘It will yet turn out that ^apeoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let’s go at once to ^aplead for the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of armies; ¹I also will go.” 22 So ^amany peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of armies in Jerusalem, and to ^bplead for the favor of the LORD.’ 23 The LORD of armies says this: ‘In those days ten people 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.”’”

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.”’”