1 ¶ Again the word of the LORD of the hosts came to me, saying,

The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me.

2 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said, I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.

Yahweh of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

3 T hus hath the LORD said, I will restore Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called City of truth and the mountain of the LORD of the hosts, the mountain of holiness.

Yahweh says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the mountain of Yahweh of Armies, ‘The Holy Mountain.’”

4 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Old men and old women shall yet dwell there in the streets of Jerusalem, and each one with his staff in his hand for the multitude of the days.

Yahweh of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

5 A nd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls who shall play in them.

The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

6 T hus saith the LORD of the hosts, If this should appear difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be difficult in my eyes? saith the LORD of the hosts.

Yahweh of Armies says: “If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?” says Yahweh of Armies.

7 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Behold, I will save my people of the land of the east and of the land where the sun sets;

Yahweh of Armies says: “Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

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 in righteousness.

and I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”

9 ¶ Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, from the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of the hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

Yahweh of Armies says: “Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.

10 F or 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 each one against his neighbour.

For before those days there was no wages for man, nor any wages for an animal; neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbor.

11 B ut now I will not do unto the residue of this people as in the former days, said the LORD of the hosts.

But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,” says Yahweh of Armies.

12 F or the seed of peace shall remain; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her fruit, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all this.

“For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.

13 A nd it shall come to pass that as ye were a curse among the Gentiles, O house of Judah and house of Israel; so will I save you that ye might be a blessing; fear not, but let your hands be strong.

It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Don’t be afraid. Let your hands be strong.”

14 F or thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, said the LORD of the hosts, and I did not repent:

For Yahweh of Armies says: “As I thought to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and I didn’t repent;

15 s o again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not fear.

so again have I thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid.

16 T hese are the things that ye shall do: Speak each one the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;

These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates,

17 a nd let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, said the LORD.

and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate,” says Yahweh.

18 ¶ And the word of the LORD of the hosts came unto me, saying,

The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me.

19 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said, The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

Yahweh of Armies says: “The fasts of the fourth fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”

20 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said, It shall yet come to pass that there shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities

Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;

21 a nd the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go to pray before the LORD and to seek the LORD of the hosts. And the other will respond: I will go also.

and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.’

22 A nd many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of the hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the LORD.

Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Yahweh.”

23 T hus hath the LORD of the hosts said, In those days it shall come to pass that ten men of all the languages of the Gentiles shall take hold of the robe of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”