²⁴ People will live^(A) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.^(B)

⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,^(A) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. ⁵ The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.^(B)”

⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,^(C) but will it seem marvelous to me?^(D)” declares the Lord Almighty.

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.^{(E) 8} I will bring them back^(F) to live^(G) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,^(H) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.^(I)”

¹⁰ and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins^(A) rebuilt.^(B)

⁴ and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls^(A) because of the great number^(B) of people and animals in it.^(C)

¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness,^(A) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(B) to the house of the Lord, saying,

For I will restore the fortunes^(E) of the land as they were before,^(F)’ says the Lord.

¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(G) and without people or animals^(H)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^{(I) 13} In the towns of the hill^(J) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(K) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(L) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.