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14 “For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘As I had planned to hurt[a] you when your fathers made me angry,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘and I was not sorry, 15 so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah—do not fear! 16 These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts.[b] 17 Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath—these are all things that I hate,’ says the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:14 tn The verb זָמַם (zamam) usually means “to plot to do evil,” but with a divine subject (as here), and in light of v. 15 where it means to plan good, the meaning here has to be the implementation of discipline (cf. NCV, CEV “punish”). God may bring hurt but its purpose is redemptive and/or pedagogical.
  2. Zechariah 8:16 sn For a similar reference to true and righteous judgment see Mic 6:8.

The Lord will Do Good to Jerusalem and Judah

14 “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘Just as I intended to bring harm to you when your ancestors angered me,’ says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, ‘and I did not relent, 15 so I have decided at this time[a] to do good things for Jerusalem and for the house of Judah. So stop being afraid. 16 Here’s what you must do: tell the truth to your neighbors, administer true and peaceful justice in your courtrooms,[b] 17 don’t plot evil in your heart against a neighbor, and don’t tolerate[c] false testimonies,[d] because I hate all these things,’ declares the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:15 Lit. at these days
  2. Zechariah 8:16 Lit. gates
  3. Zechariah 8:17 Lit. and love no
  4. Zechariah 8:17 Or oaths