2
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'I am 1exceedinglyjealous for Zion, yes, with greatwrath I am jealous for her.'
3
"Thussays the LORD, 'I will return to Zion and will 2dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of 3Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the HolyMountain.'
4
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, '4Oldmen and old women will againsit in the streets of Jerusalem, eachman with his staff in his handbecause of age*.
5
'And the streets of the city will be filled with 5boys and girlsplaying in its streets.'
6
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'If it is 6toodifficult in the sight of the remnant of thispeople in thosedays, will it also be 7toodifficult in My sight?' declares the LORD of hosts.
7
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the 8east and from the land of the west*;
8
and I will 9bring them back and they will 10live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be 11My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.'
9
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'Let your hands be 12strong, you who are listening in thesedays to thesewords from the mouth of the 13prophets, 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 beforethosedays there was 14nowage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no15peacebecause of his enemies, and I 16setallmenone against another.
11
'But now I will 17not treat the remnant of thispeople as in the formerdays,' declares the LORD of hosts.
12
'For there will be 18peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their 19dew; and I will cause the remnant of thispeople to inherit20allthese things.
13
'It will come about that just as you were a 21curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a 22blessing. Do not fear; let your 23hands be strong.'
14
"For thussays the LORD of hosts, 'Just as I 24purposed to doharm to you when your fathersprovoked Me to wrath,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I have not 25relented,
15
so I have againpurposed in thesedays to 26dogood to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 27Do not fear!
16
'These are the thingswhich you should do: speak the 28truth to oneanother; 29judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.
17
'Also let none* of you 30deviseevil in your heart against another, and do not love31perjury*; for allthese are what I 32hate,' declares the LORD."
18
Then the word of the LORD of hostscame to me, saying,
19
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'The fast of the 33fourth, the fast of the 34fifth, the fast of the 35seventh and the fast of the 36tenth months will become37joy, gladness, and cheerfulfeasts for the house of Judah; so 38lovetruth and peace.'
20
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'It will yet be that 39peoples will come, even the inhabitants of manycities.
21
'The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, "Let us go at once to 40entreat the favor* of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will alsogo."
22
'So 41manypeoples and mightynations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to 42entreat the favor* of the LORD.'
23
"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'In thosedaystenmen from all the nations will 43grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.""'