對耶路撒冷的應許

萬軍之耶和華的話傳給了我,說: 「萬軍之耶和華說,『我對錫安充滿了火熱的愛,我為錫安而大發烈怒。 我要回到錫安,住在耶路撒冷。耶路撒冷必被稱為忠信之城,我的山必被稱為聖山。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 必再次有年紀老邁、手拿拐杖的男女坐在耶路撒冷的街上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 街上必到處都是玩耍的男女孩童。』 萬軍之耶和華說,『那時,這事在這些餘民看來是不可能的,但在我看來毫不稀奇。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』 萬軍之耶和華說,『看啊,我要從東方和西方救出我的子民, 帶他們回到耶路撒冷居住。他們要做我的子民,我要做他們信實和公義的上帝。』

「萬軍之耶和華說,『在奠立萬軍之耶和華殿的根基那天,眾先知都在場。現今聽見這些先知之言的人啊,你們要剛強,以便可以建造聖殿! 10 那日之前,人和牲畜都得不到工錢。在敵人的威脅下,人們出入沒有平安。因為我使眾人彼此為敵。 11 如今我不會像從前那樣對待這些餘民了。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 12 因為他們必平安地撒種,葡萄樹必結果子,土地必出產五穀,天必降下甘霖,我要把這些福氣賜給這些餘民。 13 猶大家和以色列家啊,從前你們在列國中是受咒詛的,現在我要拯救你們,使你們成為蒙福的人。你們不要懼怕,要剛強。』

14 「萬軍之耶和華說,『從前你們的祖先惹我發怒,我決定毫不留情地降禍給他們。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 15 現在我決定賜福給耶路撒冷和猶大家。你們不要懼怕。 16 你們所當做的是彼此說真話,在城門口秉公斷案,使人和睦。 17 不可設陰謀彼此相害,不可以起假誓為樂,因為這些都是我所憎惡的。這是耶和華說的。』」

18 萬軍之耶和華的話傳給了我,說: 19 「萬軍之耶和華說,『四月、五月、七月、十月的禁食必成為猶大家歡喜快樂的日子和幸福的節期。因此,你們要喜愛真理與和平。 20 各族的人和各城的居民都必來這裡。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 21 這一城的居民必到那一城,說,我們快去向耶和華求恩,去尋求萬軍之耶和華吧!我自己也去。 22 各民族和各強國必來耶路撒冷尋求萬軍之耶和華,向耶和華求恩。 23 那時,十個來自列國、講不同語言的人必拉住一個猶大人的衣角,說,讓我們跟你們同去吧,因為我們聽說上帝與你們同在。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』」

Jerusalem, the City of Truth

Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came, saying, “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘[a]I am (A)jealous with great jealousy for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ Thus says Yahweh, ‘I will return to Zion and will (B)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of (C)Truth, and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘(D)Old men and old women will again sit in the [b]streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of [c]age. And the [d]streets of the city will be filled with (E)boys and girls playing in its [e]streets.’ Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If it is [f](F)too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be [g](G)too difficult in My sight?’ declares Yahweh of hosts. Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land where the [h](H)sun rises and from the land where the [i]sun sets; and I will (I)bring them back, and they will (J)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be (K)My people, and I will be their God in [j]truth and righteousness.’

“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Let your hands be (L)strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the (M)prophets, 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 (N)no wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no [k](O)peace because of the adversary, and I (P)set all men one against another. 11 But now I will (Q)not [l]treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 12 ‘For there will be (R)peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their (S)dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit (T)all these things. 13 And it will be that just as you were a (U)curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a (V)blessing. Do not fear; let your (W)hands be strong.’

14 “For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Just as I (X)purposed to bring about evil to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I have not (Y)relented, 15 so I have again purposed in these days to (Z)do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. (AA)Do not fear! 16 These are the things which you should do: speak the (AB)truth to one another; (AC)judge with truth and judgment for peace in your [m]gates. 17 Also let none of you (AD)devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love [n](AE)false oaths; for all these are what I (AF)hate,’ declares Yahweh.”

18 Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘The fast of the (AG)fourth, the fast of the (AH)fifth, the fast of the (AI)seventh, and the fast of the (AJ)tenth months will become (AK)joy, gladness, and [o]merry appointed feasts for the house of Judah; so (AL)love truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘It will yet be that (AM)peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to [p](AN)entreat the favor of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh of hosts; [q]I will also go.” 22 So (AO)many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem and to [r](AP)entreat the favor of Yahweh.’ 23 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from every tongue of the nations will [s](AQ)take hold of the [t]garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:2 Or I am exceedingly jealous, cf. 1:14
  2. Zechariah 8:4 Or squares
  3. Zechariah 8:4 Lit the multitude of days
  4. Zechariah 8:5 Or squares
  5. Zechariah 8:5 Or squares
  6. Zechariah 8:6 Or marvelous, cf. Gen 18:14
  7. Zechariah 8:6 Or marvelous, cf. Gen 18:14
  8. Zechariah 8:7 Or east
  9. Zechariah 8:7 Or west
  10. Zechariah 8:8 Or faithfulness
  11. Zechariah 8:10 Or safety
  12. Zechariah 8:11 Lit be to the
  13. Zechariah 8:16 The place where court was held
  14. Zechariah 8:17 Lit lying, cf. Ex 20:16
  15. Zechariah 8:19 Or goodly
  16. Zechariah 8:21 Lit soften the face of
  17. Zechariah 8:21 Or let me go too
  18. Zechariah 8:22 Lit soften the face of
  19. Zechariah 8:23 Lit grasp, and they will grasp
  20. Zechariah 8:23 Or corner of the garment