The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealousa for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

3 This is what the Lord says: “I will returnb to Zionc and dwell in Jerusalem.d Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,e and the mountainf of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.g”

4 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. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.i”

6 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.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.l 8 I will bring them backm to liven in Jerusalem; they will be my people,o and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.p”

9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strongq so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophetsr said who were present when the foundations was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wagest for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safelyu 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 inheritancez to the remnant of this people.a 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a cursea b among the nations, so I will savec you, and you will be a blessing.b d Do not be afraid,e but let your hands be strong.f”

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disasterg on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do goodh again to Jerusalem and Judah.i Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truthj to each other, and render true and sound judgmentk in your courts;l 17 do not plot evilm against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.n 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,o fifth,p seventhq and tenthr months will become joyfuls and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love trutht 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 entreatu the Lord and seekv 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.”w

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.’ ”x