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

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

Then the word of the Lord of armies came, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘I am (A)exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and (B)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of (C)Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of armies will be called the Holy Mountain.’ The Lord of armies says this: ‘(D)Old men and old women will again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each person with his staff in his hand because of [a]age. And the public squares of the city will be filled with (E)boys and girls playing in its squares.’ The Lord of armies says this: ‘If it is (F)too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be (G)too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of armies. The Lord of armies says this: ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the [b](H)east and from the land of the [c]west; and I will (I)bring them back and they will (J)live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be (K)My people, and I will be their God in [d]truth and righteousness.’

“The Lord of armies says this: ‘Let your hands be (L)strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the (M)prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was (N)no wage for man nor any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no [e](O)peace because of [f]his enemies, and I (P)sent all the people against one another. 11 But now I will (Q)not [g]treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of armies. 12 ‘For there will be (R)the seed of peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will provide their (S)dew; and I will give to the remnant of this people (T)all these things as an inheritance. 13 And it will come about that just as you were a (U)curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a (V)blessing. Do not fear; let your (W)hands be strong.’

14 “For this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Just as I (X)determined to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and I have not (Y)relented, 15 so I have again determined in these days to (Z)do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. (AA)Do not fear! 16 These are the things which you shall do: speak the (AB)truth to one another; (AC)judge with truth and judgment for peace at your [h]gates. 17 Also let none of you (AD)devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love [i](AE)perjury; for all these things are what I (AF)hate,’ declares the Lord.”

18 Then the word of the Lord of armies came to me, saying, 19 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘The fast of the (AG)fourth, the fast of the (AH)fifth, the fast of the (AI)seventh, and the fast of the (AJ)tenth months will become (AK)joy, jubilation, and [j]cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; so (AL)love truth and peace.’

20 “The Lord of armies says this: ‘It will yet turn out that (AM)peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let’s go at once to (AN)plead for the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of armies; [k]I also will go.” 22 So (AO)many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of armies in Jerusalem, and to (AP)plead for the favor of the Lord.’ 23 The Lord of armies says this: ‘In those days ten people from all the [l]nations will [m](AQ)grasp the [n]garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:4 Lit the multitude of days
  2. Zechariah 8:7 Lit sunrise
  3. Zechariah 8:7 Lit setting sun
  4. Zechariah 8:8 Or faithfulness
  5. Zechariah 8:10 Or security
  6. Zechariah 8:10 Lit the adversary
  7. Zechariah 8:11 Lit be to the
  8. Zechariah 8:16 I.e., the place where court was held
  9. Zechariah 8:17 Lit a false oath
  10. Zechariah 8:19 Or goodly
  11. Zechariah 8:21 Or let me go too
  12. Zechariah 8:23 Lit languages of the nations
  13. Zechariah 8:23 Lit grasp, and they will grasp
  14. Zechariah 8:23 Lit hem of a garment