Thus says the Lord of hosts: (A)“Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of (B)the prophets who were present on (C)the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days (D)there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. 12 (E)For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, (F)and the heavens shall give their dew. (G)And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as (H)you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, (I)so will I save you, and (J)you shall be a blessing. (K)Fear not, but (L)let your hands be strong.”

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“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. 10 Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

11 “But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. 13 Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

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