⁹ “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies also says, ‘Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,^[a] so that the temple might be built. ¹⁰ Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody—each one—against everyone else. ¹¹ But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ¹² ‘for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit, and the ground its yield, and the skies^[b] will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things. ¹³ And it will come about that just as you, both Judah and Israel, were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong.’