1 A nd the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,

Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying,

2 T hus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.

“The Lord of All says, ‘I am very jealous for Zion. I am jealous for her with much anger.’

3 T hus says the Lord: I shall return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain.

The Lord says, ‘I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of All will be called the Holy Mountain.’

4 T hus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again dwell in Jerusalem and sit out in the streets, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

The Lord of All says, ‘Old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem again. Each man will have a walking stick in his hand because he will be old.

5 A nd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

And the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.’

6 T hus says the Lord of hosts: Because it will be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in My eyes? says the Lord of hosts.

The Lord of All says, ‘It may be wonderful to the few people here in those days, but will it be wonderful to Me also?’ says the Lord of All.

7 T hus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country and from the west.

The Lord of All says, ‘I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west.

8 A nd I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and faithfulness and in righteousness.

I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem. They will be My people and I will be their God. I will be faithful and do what is right and good for them.’

9 T hus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strong and hardened, you who in these days hear these words from the mouths of the prophets who on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid foretold that the temple should be rebuilt.

“The Lord of All says, ‘You who are now listening to these words spoken through the men of God who were there when the Lord’s house was started, let your hands be strong for building the Lord’s house.

10 F or before those days there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast, neither was there any peace or success to him who went out or came in because of the adversary and oppressor, for I set (let loose) all men, every one against his neighbor.

Before that time there was no pay for man or animal. No one could come in or go out in peace because of those who hated him. I turned people against one another.

11 B ut now I am not to the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the Lord of hosts.

But now I will not do to the rest of these people as I did in the past,’ says the Lord of All.

12 F or there shall the seed produce peace and prosperity; the vine shall yield her fruit and the ground shall give its increase and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things.

‘The seed will grow in peace. The vine will give its fruit. The land will give its food. The heavens will give water on the grass in the early morning. And I will let the rest of this people have all these things.

13 A nd as you have been a curse and a byword among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong and hardened.

O people of Judah and Israel, just as you were a curse among the nations, I will save you and make you something good. Do not be afraid. Let your hands be strong.’

14 F or thus says the Lord of hosts: As I thought to bring calamity upon you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, says the Lord of hosts, and I did not relent or revoke your sentence,

“The Lord of All says, ‘I wanted to hurt you because your fathers made Me angry.

15 S o again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not!

But now I want to do good to Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. Do not be afraid.

16 T hese are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor; render the truth and pronounce the judgment or verdict that makes for peace in your gates.

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another. Judge with truth so there will be peace within your gates.

17 A nd let none of you think or imagine or devise evil or injury in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, says the Lord.

Do not make sinful plans against one another in your hearts. And do not love to make false promises. For I hate all these things,’ says the Lord.”

18 A nd the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,

Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying,

19 T hus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah times of joy and gladness and cheerful, appointed seasons; therefore love truth and peace.

“The Lord of All says, ‘The times when you do not eat in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become glad times of joy. They will become happy, special suppers for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.’

20 T hus says the Lord of hosts: It shall yet come to pass that there shall come peoples and the inhabitants of many and great cities,

The Lord of All says, ‘Many people will yet come from many cities.

21 A nd the inhabitants of one city shall go to them of another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray and entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek, inquire of, and require the Lord of hosts. I will go also.

The people of one city will say to another, “Let us go at once and pray to the Lord and ask for His favor. I will go also.”

22 Y es, many people and strong nations shall come to Jerusalem to seek, inquire of, and require the Lord of hosts and to pray to the Lord for His favor.

‘So many people and powerful nations will come to look for the Lord of All in Jerusalem and to ask for the Lord’s favor.’

23 T hus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

The Lord of All says, ‘In those days ten men from the nations of every language will take hold of the coat of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”