Zechariah 8:9-15

Expanded Bible

⁹ This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts] says: “·Work hard [^LLet your hands be strong], you who are hearing these words today. The prophets spoke these words when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], for the building of the Temple. ¹⁰ Before that time there was no money to hire people or animals. People could not ·safely [peacefully] come and go because of the enemies; I had turned everyone against his neighbor. ¹¹ But I will not do to ·these people who are left [this remnant of the people] what I did in the past,” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts].

¹² “They will plant their seeds in peace, their grapevines will have fruit, the ground will give good crops, and the sky will send ·rain [dew]. I will give ·all this [this as an inheritance/possession] to the ·people who are left alive [remnant of this people]. ¹³ Judah and Israel, your names have been ·used as curses in [or viewed as accursed by] other nations. But I will save you, and you will become a blessing. So don’t be afraid; ·work hard [^Llet your hands be strong].”

¹⁴ This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts] says: “When your ·ancestors [fathers] made me angry, I planned to ·punish [bring disaster on] you. I did not ·change my mind [relent],” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts]. ¹⁵ “But ·now [^Lin these days] I am planning to do good to Jerusalem and Judah. So don’t be afraid.