⁹ 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.”