Zealous for Zion

8 Then the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: ² “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her.” ³ Thus says Adonai, “I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and the mountain of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be called the Holy Mountain.” ⁴ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Once again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of his age. ⁵ The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

⁶ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘It may seem difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, but will it also be difficult in My eyes?’—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. ⁷ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. ⁸ I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’ ^{[a] 9} “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Let your hands be strong—you who hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there the day the foundation of the House of Adonai-Tzva’ot was laid—so that the Temple may be rebuilt. ¹⁰ Before those days there were no wages for man or animal, nor was there any shalom from adversity for those who came or went because I set every one against his neighbor. ¹¹ But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot.

¹² “For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. ¹³ It will happen that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Fear not! Let your hands be strong!’

¹⁴ For thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Just as I determined to harm you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘and I did not relent, ¹⁵ so I have again determined in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not! ¹⁶ These are the things that you are to do: speak the truth one to another; administer the judgment of truth and shalom in your gates; ^{[b] 17} do not let any of you devise evil in your hearts against your neighbor; and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things,”—it is a declaration of Adonai.

¹⁸ Again the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: ¹⁹ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth month will become joy, gladness and cheerful moadim. Therefore, love truth and shalom!’ ²⁰ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will again come. ²¹ The inhabitants of one city will go to another saying ‘Let us go to entreat the favor of Adonai and to seek Adonai-Tzva’ot. I also am going.’ ²² Indeed, many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek Adonai-Tzva’ot in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Adonai.” ²³ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”