Then the word of the LORD
of hosts
came
, saying
,
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `I am aexceedingly
jealous
for Zion
, yes, with great
wrath
I am jealous
for her.'
"Thus says
the LORD
, `I will return
to Zion
and will adwell
in the midst
of Jerusalem
. Then Jerusalem
will be called
the City
of bTruth
, and the mountain
of the LORD
of hosts
will be called the Holy
Mountain
.'
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, ` aOld
men
and old
women
will again
sit
in the 1streets
of Jerusalem
, each
man
with his staff
in his hand
because
of 2age
.
`And the 1streets of the city
will be filled
with aboys
and girls
playing
in its 1streets
.'
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `If
it is 1 atoo
difficult
in the sight
of the remnant
of this
people
in those
days
, will it also
be 1 btoo
difficult
in My sight
?' declares
the LORD
of hosts
.
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `Behold
, I am going to save
My people
from the land
of the 1 aeast
and from the land
of the 2west
;
and I will abring them back and they will blive
in the midst
of Jerusalem
; and they shall be cMy people
, and I will be their God
in 1truth
and righteousness
.'
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `Let your hands
be astrong
, you who are listening
in these
days
to these
words
from the mouth
of the bprophets
, those who
spoke in the day
that the foundation
of the house
of the LORD
of hosts
was laid
, to the end that the temple
might be built
.
`For before those
days
there was ano
wage
for man
or any wage
for animal
; and for him who went
out or came
in there
was no
1 bpeace
because
of 2his enemies
, and I cset
all
men
one
against another
.
`But now I will anot 1treat the remnant
of this
people
as in the former
days
,' declares
the LORD
of hosts
.
`For there will be apeace for the seed
: the vine
will yield
its fruit
, the land
will yield
its produce
and the heavens
will give
their bdew
; and I will cause the remnant
of this
people
to inherit
call
these
things.
`It will come about that just
as you were a acurse
among the nations
, O house
of Judah
and house
of Israel
, so
I will save
you that you may become
a bblessing
. Do not fear
; let your chands
be strong
.'
"For thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `Just
as I apurposed
to do
harm
to you when your fathers
provoked
Me to wrath
,' says
the LORD
of hosts
, `and I have not brelented
,
so I have again
purposed
in these
days
to ado
good
to Jerusalem
and to the house
of Judah
. bDo not fear
!
`These are the things
which
you should do
: speak
the atruth
to one
another
; bjudge
with truth
and judgment
for peace
in your 1gates
.
`Also let none of you adevise
evil
in your heart
against another
, and do not love
1 bperjury
; for all
these
are what
I chate
,' declares
the LORD
."
Then the word of the LORD
of hosts
came
to me, saying
,
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `The fast
of the afourth
, the fast
of the bfifth
, the fast
of the cseventh
and the fast
of the dtenth
months will become
ejoy
, gladness
, and 1cheerful
feasts
for the house
of Judah
; so flove
truth
and peace
.'
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `It will yet
be that apeoples
will come
, even the inhabitants
of many
cities
.
`The inhabitants of one
will go
to another
, saying
, "Let us go
at once
to aentreat
the favor
of the LORD
, and to seek
the LORD
of hosts
; 1I will also
go
."
`So amany peoples
and mighty
nations
will come
to seek
the LORD
of hosts
in Jerusalem
and to bentreat
the favor
of the LORD
.'
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, `In those
days
ten
men
from all
the 1nations
will 2 agrasp
the 3garment
of a Jew
, saying
, "Let us go
with you, for we have heard
that God
is with you.""'