“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

(A)‘Let your hands be strong,
You who have been hearing in these days
These words by the mouth of (B)the prophets,
Who spoke in (C)the day the foundation was laid
For the house of the Lord of hosts,
That the temple might be built.
10 For before these days
There were no (D)wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

11 (E)But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

12 ‘For(F) the [a]seed shall be prosperous,
The vine shall give its fruit,
(G)The ground shall give her increase,
And (H)the heavens shall give their dew—
I will cause the remnant of this people
To possess all these.
13 And it shall come to pass
That just as you were (I)a curse among the nations,
O house of Judah and house of Israel,
So I will save you, and (J)you shall be a blessing.
Do not fear,
Let your hands be strong.’

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:12 Lit. seed of peace

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 11 But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

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