Tell the people, ‘This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Return to me, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth, and I will return to you, says Yahweh Tsebaoth.’

Don’t be like your ancestors, who heard the earlier prophets preach to them, ‘This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.’ But they didn’t listen or pay attention to me, declares Yahweh.

Didn’t my warnings and my laws, which I’ve commanded my servants the prophets to preach, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, ‘Yahweh Tsebaoth has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.’”

The angel who was speaking with me said, “Announce: This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I’m very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion,

This is what Yahweh says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth. A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.

“Announce again: This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: My cities will overflow with prosperity once more. Yahweh will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.”

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Afterwards, the Glory sent me to the nations who looted you. Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.

I’m going to shake my fist at the nations, and their own slaves will loot them. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me.

On that day many nations will join Yahweh and become my people. I will live among you. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you.

“This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: If you live according to my ways and follow my requirements, you will govern my temple and watch over my courtyards. Then I will give you free access to walk among those standing here.

“Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. That one stone has seven eyes. I am engraving an inscription on it,” declares Yahweh Tsebaoth. “I will remove this land’s sin in a single day.

On that day,” declares Yahweh Tsebaoth, “each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree.”

Then he replied, “This is the word Yahweh spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t succeed by might or by power, but by my Ruach, says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

“Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you.

I will send out a curse, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth, and it will enter the houses of thieves and the houses of those who take oaths in my name. It will stay in their houses and destroy the timber and stone.”

Then say to him, ‘This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Here is the man whose name is Branch. He will branch out from where he is, and he will rebuild Yahweh’s temple.

Those who are far away will come and rebuild Yahweh’s temple. Then you will know Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you. This will happen if you obey Yahweh your Elohim completely.’”

They asked the priests from the house of Yahweh Tsebaoth as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done for so many years?”

Then Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word to me. He said,

“This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other.

They made their hearts as hard as flint so that they couldn’t hear the Lord’s teachings, the words that Yahweh Tsebaoth had sent by his Ruach through the earlier prophets. So Yahweh Tsebaoth became very angry.

“When I called, they wouldn’t listen. So now when they call, I won’t listen, says Yahweh Tsebaoth.

What the Lord Will Do for Zion

Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word.

This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I am very jealous about Zion. I am fiercely possessive of it.

This is what Yahweh says: I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth. The mountain of Yahweh Tsebaoth will be called the holy mountain.