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Yahweh’s Promise to Jerusalem

And the word of Yahweh of hosts came, saying, “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion;[a] I am jealous for it with great wrath.’ Thus says Yahweh: ‘I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be called the faithful city,[b] and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called the holy mountain.’ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand[c] because of great age.[d] And the public squares of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its public squares.’ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Even if it seems impossible[e] to the remnant[f] of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible[g] to me?’[h] declares[i] Yahweh of hosts. Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Look! I am going to save my people from the land of the east, and from the land of the west, and I will bring them and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will be their God in faithfulness[j] and in righteousness.’

“Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, you[k] who are hearing in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of Yahweh of hosts.[l] 10 For before those days there was no wage for people or for animals, and there was no safety from the enemy for those who went out or those who came in, and I sent each person against one another.[m] 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days,’[n] declares[o] Yahweh of hosts. 12 ‘For there will be a sowing of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the soil will give its produce, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13 And then,[p] just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. You must not be afraid; let your hands be strong!’”

14 For thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Just as I planned to bring disaster[q] on you when your ancestors[r] provoked me to anger,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I did not regret it, 15 so again I have planned[s] in these days to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Do not be afraid! 16 These are the things that you must do: speak truth, each of you, with his neighbor; practice trustworthy judgment and peace in your gates. 17 Do not devise evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love a false oath,[t] because all these are things I hate,” declares[u] Yahweh.

18 And the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying 19 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, and the tenth month will be for the house of Judah jubilation and joy and merry festivals; therefore love truth and peace.’ 20 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘It will happen again that nations and the inhabitants of many cities will come. 21 And the inhabitants of one city will go to another city, saying, “Let us go immediately to entreat the favor of[v] Yahweh, to seek Yahweh of hosts—I also will go!” 22 And many peoples and powerful[w] nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of[x] Yahweh.’ 23 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from all the nations of every language[y] will take hold of the hem of a Judean man,[z] saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!”’”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:2 Literally “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy”
  2. Zechariah 8:3 Or “the city of truth”
  3. Zechariah 8:4 Hebrew “a man his staff in his hand”
  4. Zechariah 8:4 Literally “because of the multitude of days”
  5. Zechariah 8:6 Or “wonderful”
  6. Zechariah 8:6 Literally “in the eyes of the remnant”
  7. Zechariah 8:6 Or “wonderful”
  8. Zechariah 8:6 Literally “in my eyes”
  9. Zechariah 8:6 Literally “declaration of”
  10. Zechariah 8:8 Or “truth”
  11. Zechariah 8:9 Hebrew “the ones
  12. Zechariah 8:9 Literally “the temple, the house of Yahweh of hosts, was founded to be built”
  13. Zechariah 8:10 Literally “his neighbor”
  14. Zechariah 8:11 Literally “not like the former days I will be to the remnant”
  15. Zechariah 8:11 Literally “declaration of”
  16. Zechariah 8:13 Literally “and it will happen”
  17. Zechariah 8:14 Hebrew “evil”
  18. Zechariah 8:14 Or “fathers”
  19. Zechariah 8:15 Literally “So I did again, I planned”
  20. Zechariah 8:17 Literally “an oath of deception”
  21. Zechariah 8:17 Literally “declaration of”
  22. Zechariah 8:21 Literally “the face of”
  23. Zechariah 8:22 Or “mighty”
  24. Zechariah 8:22 Literally “the face of”
  25. Zechariah 8:23 Literally “all the languages of the nations”
  26. Zechariah 8:23 Many versions translate “a Jew,” but “Judean” highlights Zechariah’s focus on provincial geography

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

This is what the Lord says: “I will return(B) to Zion(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.(D) Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,(E) and the mountain(F) of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.(G)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,(H) each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.(I)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,(J) but will it seem marvelous to me?(K)” declares the Lord Almighty.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.(L) I will bring them back(M) to live(N) in Jerusalem; they will be my people,(O) and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.(P)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong(Q) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets(R) said who were present when the foundation(S) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages(T) for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely(U) because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”(V) declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,(W) the ground will produce its crops,(X) and the heavens will drop their dew.(Y) I will give all these things as an inheritance(Z) to the remnant of this people.(AA) 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](AB) among the nations, so I will save(AC) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](AD) Do not be afraid,(AE) but let your hands be strong.(AF)

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(AG) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(AH) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(AI) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(AJ) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(AK) in your courts;(AL) 17 do not plot evil(AM) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(AN) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(AO) fifth,(AP) seventh(AQ) and tenth(AR) months will become joyful(AS) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(AT) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(AU) the Lord and seek(AV) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(AW)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed