Zechariah 8:18-23
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Three Oracles: Judah and the Nations. 18 The word of the Lord of hosts came to me:
19 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
The fast days of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months[a](A) will become occasions of joy and gladness, and happy festivals for the house of Judah.(B) So love faithfulness and peace!
20 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
There will yet come peoples and inhabitants of many cities;(C) 21 and the inhabitants of one city will approach those of another, and say, “Come! let us go to implore the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts. I too am going.” 22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the Lord.
23 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
In those days ten people from nations of every language will take hold,(D) yes, will take hold of the cloak of every Judahite and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 8:19 Fast days of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months: all these fast days were probably held in connection with Jerusalem’s demise. The fasts of the fourth month (commemorating the departure of Judahite leadership from Jerusalem, 2 Kgs 25:3–7) and of the tenth month (marking the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem, 2 Kgs 25:1) were added to the fasts of the fifth and seventh months mentioned in Zec 7:3 and 5 (see notes).
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