Zechariah 8

Modern English Version

The Holy City of Peace and Prosperity

8 And the word of the Lord came, saying: ² Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.

³ Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be called a city of faithfulness and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the holy mountain.

⁴ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Older men and women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each having a staff in his hand because of advanced age. ⁵ And the plazas of the city will be filled with young boys and girls playing in her open places.

⁶ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes? says the Lord of Hosts.

⁷ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I will deliver My people from the eastern lands and from the western lands. ⁸ And I will bring them, and they will reside in Jerusalem, and they will be for Me as a people, and I will be for them as God, with faithfulness and righteousness.

⁹ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Let your hands be strengthened, whoever is hearing these words in these days, from the mouth of the prophets who were there in the day that the house of the Lord of Hosts was founded, that the temple might be built. ¹⁰ For before those days there were no wages for a man nor any hire for an animal; and there was no peace from an enemy for him who went out or came in; for I set every man against his neighbor. ¹¹ But now I will not be as in the former days against this remnant people, says the Lord of Hosts.

¹² For sowing will be done in peace, and the vine will produce its fruit, and the ground will provide its produce, and the heavens will give their rain. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all of these benefits. ¹³ And as you have been like a curse among the nations, O house of Israel and house of Judah, I will deliver you, and you will be a blessing. Fear not, and strengthen your hands!

¹⁴ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Just as I had determined to punish you when your fathers incited Me to wrath, says the Lord of Hosts, I did not relent. ¹⁵ So again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear! ¹⁶ These are the things you will do: Speak truth each to his neighbor, and make judgments in your gates that are for truth, and justice, and peace. ¹⁷ Let none of you consider evil plans in your heart against your neighbor, and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things, says the Lord.

¹⁸ And the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me, saying:

¹⁹ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: The fast during the fourth and fifth months, and the fasts during the seventh and tenth months, will become rejoicing and joy and pleasant feasts for the house of Judah. So love what brings truth and peace.

²⁰ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Peoples will still come, even those who live in many cities. ²¹ Those who live in one city will journey to another, saying, “Let us surely go to seek the Lord of Hosts. I myself am going.” ²² Many peoples and strong nations will seek out the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.

²³ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations will take hold of the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”