The Blessing of True Fasting

8 Then the message of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies^[a] came to me as follows: ² “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.’ ³ The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,” “holy mountain.”’ ⁴ Moreover, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age. ⁵ And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.^{[b] 6} And,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?’ asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

⁷ “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies asserts, ‘I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. ⁸ And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God,^[c] in truth and righteousness.’