The Branch of the Lord

² In that day^(A) the Branch of the Lord^(B) will be beautiful^(C) and glorious, and the fruit^(D) of the land will be the pride and glory^(E) of the survivors^(F) in Israel. ³ Those who are left in Zion,^(G) who remain^(H) in Jerusalem, will be called holy,^(I) all who are recorded^(J) among the living in Jerusalem. ⁴ The Lord will wash away the filth^(K) of the women of Zion;^(L) he will cleanse^(M) the bloodstains^(N) from Jerusalem by a spirit^[a] of judgment^(O) and a spirit^[b] of fire.^{(P) 5} Then the Lord will create^(Q) over all of Mount Zion^(R) and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night;^(S) over everything the glory^[c](T) will be a canopy.^{(U) 6} It will be a shelter^(V) and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge^(W) and hiding place from the storm^(X) and rain.

¹¹ But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”^(A) declares the Lord Almighty.

¹² “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,^(B) the ground will produce its crops,^(C) and the heavens will drop their dew.^(D) I will give all these things as an inheritance^(E) to the remnant of this people.^{(F) 13} Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse^[a](G) among the nations, so I will save^(H) you, and you will be a blessing.^[b](I) Do not be afraid,^(J) but let your hands be strong.^(K)”

¹⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster^(L) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, ¹⁵ “so now I have determined to do good^(M) again to Jerusalem and Judah.^(N) Do not be afraid. ¹⁶ These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth^(O) to each other, and render true and sound judgment^(P) in your courts;^{(Q) 17} do not plot evil^(R) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.^(S) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

¹⁸ The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

¹⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,^(T) fifth,^(U) seventh^(V) and tenth^(W) months will become joyful^(X) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth^(Y) and peace.”

²⁰ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, ²¹ and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat^(Z) the Lord and seek^(AA) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ ²² And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”^(AB)

²³ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”^(AC)

⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,^(A) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready,^(B) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,^(C) whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.^{(D) 47} Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.^{(E) 48} But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.^{(F) 50} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(G)