Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
1
The LORD of Armies spoke his word.
2 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.'
2
This is what the LORD of Armies says: I am very jealous about Zion. I am fiercely possessive of it.
3 "Thus saith the LORD: `I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the Holy Mountain.'
3
This is what the LORD says: I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth. The mountain of the LORD of Armies will be called the holy mountain.
4 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand because of great age.
4
This is what the LORD of Armies 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.
5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.'
5
The city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.
6 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in Mine eyes?' saith the LORD of hosts.
6
This is what the LORD of Armies says: It may seem impossible to the few remaining people in those days, but will it seem impossible to me? declares the LORD of Armies.
7 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `Behold, I will save My people from the east country and from the west country;
7
This is what the LORD of Armies says: I am going to save my people from the land where the sun rises and from the land where the sun sets.
8 and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.'
8
I will bring them back, and they will live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, who is faithful and just.
9 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
9
This is what the LORD of Armies 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 the LORD of Armies was laid.
10 For before these days there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast, neither was there any peace for him that went out or came in because of the affliction; for I set all men, every one, against his neighbor.
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 will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days,' saith the LORD of hosts.
11
But now I won't deal with the few remaining people as I did in earlier times, declares the LORD of Armies.
12 `For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
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 And it shall come to pass that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.'
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 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts: `As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,' saith the LORD of hosts, `and I repented not,
14
This is what the LORD of Armies says: When your ancestors made me angry, I made plans to destroy you, declares the LORD of Armies, and I didn't change my plans.
15 so again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear ye not.
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 These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;
16
You must do these things: Speak the truth to each other. Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.
17 and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' saith the LORD."
17
Don't even think of doing evil to each other. Don't enjoy false testimony. I hate all these things, declares the LORD.
18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
18
The LORD of Armies spoke his word to me again.
19 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love the truth and peace.'
19
This is what the LORD of Armies 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 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `It shall yet come to pass that there shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities.
20
This is what the LORD of Armies says: People and citizens from many cities are going to come.
21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts. I will go also."
21
The citizens of one city will come to another city, saying, "Let's make a habit of going to ask the LORD for a blessing and to seek the LORD of Armies. I'm also going."
22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.'
22
Many people and powerful nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to ask the LORD for a blessing.
23 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts: `In those days it shall come to pass that ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'"
23
This is what the LORD of Armies 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 God is with you."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.