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The word from the Lord of heavenly forces came to me:[a]
    The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

I care passionately about Zion; I burn with passion for her. The Lord proclaims: I have returned to Zion; I will settle in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the city of truth; the mountain of the Lord of heavenly forces will be the holy mountain.

The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

Old men and old women will again dwell in the plazas of Jerusalem. Each of them will have a staff in their hand because of their great age. The city will be full of boys and girls playing in its plazas.

The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

Even though it may seem to be a miracle for the few remaining among this people in these days, should it seem to be a miracle for me? says the Lord of heavenly forces.

The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

I’m about to deliver my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. I’ll bring them back so they will dwell in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God—in truth and in righteousness.

The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

Be strong, you who are now hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets spoken on the day when the foundations for the house of the Lord of heavenly forces were laid. 10 Before this time, there were no wages for people or animals; there was no relief from distress about going out or coming in, because I set everyone against their own neighbor. 11 But now, unlike those earlier days, I’ll be with the few remaining among this people, says the Lord of heavenly forces.

12         The seed is healthy:
            the vine will give its fruit.
            The land will give its produce;
            the heavens will give its dew.
                I will give the remnant of this people all these things.
13             Just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel,
                so now I will deliver you; you will be a blessing.
        Don’t fear, but be strong.
14 The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

Just as I planned evil against you when your ancestors angered me, says the Lord of heavenly forces, and did not relent, 15 so now I have changed course and again plan to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid.

16 These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to each other; make truthful, just, and peaceable decisions within your gates. 17 Don’t plan evil for each other. Don’t adore swearing falsely, for all of these are things that I hate, says the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord of heavenly forces came to me:
19     The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah. Love truth and peace!

20 The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

Peoples will still come, the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another saying, “Let’s go and seek the favor of the Lord, and look for the Lord of heavenly forces. I’m going too.” 22 Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of heavenly forces in Jerusalem and to seek the favor of the Lord.

23 The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:

In those days ten men from nations with entirely different languages will grab hold of a Judean’s clothes and say, “Let’s go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:1 Heb lacks to me.

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

This is what the Lord says: “I will return(B) to Zion(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.(D) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(E) and the mountain(F) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(G)

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

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

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.(L) I will bring them back(M) to live(N) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(O) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(P)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(Q) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(R) said who were present when the foundation(S) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(T) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(U) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(V) declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(W) the ground will produce its crops,(X) and the heavens will drop their dew.(Y) I will give all these things as an inheritance(Z) to the remnant of this people.(AA) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](AB) among the nations, so I will save(AC) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](AD) Do not be afraid,(AE) but let your hands be strong.(AF)

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(AG) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(AH) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(AI) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(AJ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(AK) in your courts;(AL) 17 do not plot evil(AM) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(AN) 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,(AO) fifth,(AP) seventh(AQ) and tenth(AR) months will become joyful(AS) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(AT) 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(AU) the Lord and seek(AV) 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.”(AW)

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.’”(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed

Ang katotohanan at katuwiran ay ipinayo.

At ang salita ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo ay dumating sa akin, na nagsasabi,

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, (A)Ako'y may paninibugho sa Sion ng malaking paninibugho, at ako'y may paninibugho sa kaniya ng malaking poot.

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon, (B)Ako'y nagbalik sa Sion, at tatahan ako sa gitna ng Jerusalem: at ang Jerusalem (C)ay tatawagin, Bayan ng katotohanan; at ang bundok ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Ang banal na bundok.

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, (D)Tatahanan pa ng mga matandang lalake at babae ang mga lansangan ng Jerusalem, bawa't tao na may kaniyang tungkod sa kaniyang kamay dahil sa totoong katandaan.

At ang mga lansangan ng bayan ay mapupuno ng mga batang lalake at babae na naglalaro sa mga lansangan niyaon.

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Kung maging kagilagilalas sa mga mata ng (E)nalabi sa bayang ito sa mga araw na yaon, magiging kagilagilalas din naman baga sa aking mga mata? sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo.

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Narito, aking ililigtas ang aking bayan (F)sa lupaing silanganan at sa lupaing kalunuran;

At aking dadalhin sila, at sila'y magsisitahan sa gitna ng Jerusalem; (G)at sila'y magiging aking bayan, at ako'y magiging kanilang Dios, sa katotohanan at sa katuwiran.

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, (H)Inyong palakasin ang inyong mga kamay, ninyong nangakakarinig sa mga araw na ito ng mga salitang ito sa bibig ng (I)mga propeta, mula nang araw na ilagay ang tatagang-baon sa bahay ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, sa templo, upang matayo.

10 Sapagka't bago dumating ang mga araw na yaon ay walang upa sa tao, ni anomang upa sa hayop; at wala ring anomang kapayapaan doon sa lumalabas o pumapasok dahil sa kaaway: sapagka't aking inilagay ang lahat na tao na bawa't isa'y laban sa kaniyang kapuwa.

11 Nguni't ngayo'y sa nalabi sa bayang ito ay hindi ako magiging gaya ng mga unang araw, sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo.

12 Sapagka't magkakaroon ng binhi ng kapayapaan; ang puno ng ubas ay magbubunga, at ang lupa'y mapapakinabangan, at ibibigay ng langit ang kaniyang hamog; at aking ipamamana sa nalabi sa bayang ito ang lahat na bagay na ito.

13 At mangyayari, na kung paanong kayo'y (J)naging isang sumpa sa gitna ng mga bansa, Oh sangbahayan ni Juda, at sangbahayan ni Israel, gayon ko kayo ililigtas, at kayo'y (K)magiging isang kapalaran. Huwag kayong mangatakot, kundi inyong palakasin ang inyong mga kamay.

14 Sapagka't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, (L)Kung paanong inisip kong gawan kayo ng masama, nang mungkahiin ako ng inyong mga magulang sa poot, sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, at hindi ako nagsisi;

15 Gayon ko uli inisip sa mga araw na ito na gawan ng mabuti ang Jerusalem at ang sangbahayan ni Juda: huwag kayong mangatakot.

16 Ito ang mga bagay na inyong gagawin, (M)Magsalita ang bawa't isa sa inyo ng katotohanan sa kaniyang kapuwa; humatol kayo ng katotohanan at kapayapaan sa inyong mga pintuang-bayan;

17 At huwag magisip ang sinoman sa inyo ng kasamaan sa inyong puso laban sa kaniyang kapuwa; at huwag ninyong ibigin ang sinungaling na sumpa: sapagka't ang lahat ng ito ay mga bagay na aking kinapopootan, sabi ng Panginoon.

18 At ang salita ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo ay dumating sa akin, na nagsasabi,

19 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Ang ayuno (N)sa ikaapat na buwan, at ang ayuno sa (O)ikalima, at ang ayuno sa ikapito, at ang ayuno sa (P)ikasangpu, ay magiging sa sangbahayan, ni Juda'y kagalakan at kaligayahan, at mga masayang kapistahan; kaya't inyong ibigin ang katotohanan at kapayapaan.

20 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Mangyayari pa, na darating ang mga bansa, at ang nagsisitahan sa maraming bayan;

21 At ang nagsisitahan sa isang bayan ay paroroon sa isa, na magsasabi, Magsiparoon tayong madali, na ating hilingin ang lingap ng Panginoon, at hanapin ang Panginoon ng mga hukbo; ako man ay paroroon.

22 Oo, maraming bansa at mga matibay na bansa ay (Q)magsisiparoon upang hanapin ang Panginoon ng mga hukbo sa Jerusalem, at hilingin ang lingap ng Panginoon.

23 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, Sa mga araw na yao'y mangyayari, na (R)sangpung lalake (S)sa lahat ng wika sa mga bansa ay magtatanganan, sila nga'y magsisitangan sa laylayan niya na Judio, na mangagsasabi, Kami ay magsisiyaong kasama mo, sapagka't aming narinig na ang Dios ay kasama mo.

Jerusalem, Holy City of the Future

Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(A)‘I am [a]zealous for Zion with great [b]zeal;
With great [c]fervor I am zealous for her.’

“Thus says the Lord:

(B)‘I will return to Zion,
And (C)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem (D)shall be called the City of Truth,
(E)The Mountain of the Lord of hosts,
(F)The Holy Mountain.’

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(G)‘Old men and old women shall again sit
In the streets of Jerusalem,
Each one with his staff in his hand
Because of [d]great age.
The streets of the city
Shall be (H)full of boys and girls
Playing in its streets.’

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If it is [e]marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days,
(I)Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’
Says the Lord of hosts.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, (J)I will save My people from the land of the [f]east
And from the land of the [g]west;
I will (K)bring them back,
And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
(L)They shall be My people
And I will be their God,
(M)In truth and righteousness.’

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(N)‘Let your hands be strong,
You who have been hearing in these days
These words by the mouth of (O)the prophets,
Who spoke in (P)the day the foundation was laid
For the house of the Lord of hosts,
That the temple might be built.
10 For before these days
There were no (Q)wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

11 (R)But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

12 ‘For(S) the [h]seed shall be prosperous,
The vine shall give its fruit,
(T)The ground shall give her increase,
And (U)the heavens shall give their dew—
I will cause the remnant of this people
To possess all these.
13 And it shall come to pass
That just as you were (V)a curse among the nations,
O house of Judah and house of Israel,
So I will save you, and (W)you shall be a blessing.
Do not fear,
Let your hands be strong.’

14 “For thus says the Lord of hosts:

(X)‘Just as I determined to [i]punish you
When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
(Y)‘And I would not relent,
15 So again in these days
I am determined to do good
To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
Do not fear.
16 These are the things you shall (Z)do:
(AA)Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
17 (AB)Let none of you think evil in [j]your heart against your neighbor;
And do not love a false oath.
For all these are things that I hate,’
Says the Lord.”

18 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(AC)‘The fast of the fourth month,
(AD)The fast of the fifth,
(AE)The fast of the seventh,
(AF)And the fast of the tenth,
Shall be (AG)joy and gladness and cheerful feasts
For the house of Judah.
(AH)Therefore love truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Peoples shall yet come,
Inhabitants of many cities;
21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,
(AI)“Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord,
And seek the Lord of hosts.
I myself will go also.”
22 Yes, (AJ)many peoples and strong nations
Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem,
And to pray before the Lord.’

23 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men (AK)from every language of the nations shall (AL)grasp the [k]sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard (AM)that God is with you.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:2 Or jealous
  2. Zechariah 8:2 Or jealousy
  3. Zechariah 8:2 Lit. heat or rage
  4. Zechariah 8:4 Lit. many days
  5. Zechariah 8:6 Or wonderful
  6. Zechariah 8:7 Lit. rising sun
  7. Zechariah 8:7 Lit. setting sun
  8. Zechariah 8:12 Lit. seed of peace
  9. Zechariah 8:14 Lit. bring calamity to you
  10. Zechariah 8:17 Lit. his
  11. Zechariah 8:23 Lit. wing, corner of a garment