³This 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”

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

⁶This 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.

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

⁹This 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. ¹⁰Before 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. ¹¹But 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.^a ¹³Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse^a^b among the nations, so I will save^c you, and you will be a blessing.^b^d Do not be afraid,^e but let your hands be strong.^f”

¹⁴This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster^g on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, ¹⁵“so now I have determined to do good^h again to Jerusalem and Judah.ⁱ Do not be afraid. ¹⁶These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth^j to each other, and render true and sound judgment^k in your courts;^l ¹⁷do not plot evil^m against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.ⁿ I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

aThat is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
bOr and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed

Cross references

aSee Joel 2:18
b Zec 1:16
cSee Isa 52:8; See Joel 3:21
dSee Zec 2:10
eSee Ps 15:2; See Isa 1:26; See 48:1; See Jer 33:16
fSee Jer 26:18
gSee Isa 1:26; See Mic 4:1
hSee Isa 65:20
iSee Jer 30:20; 31:13
j Ps 118:23; 126:1–3
k Jer 32:17, 27
l Ps 107:3; See Isa 11:11; See 43:5
mSee Eze 37:12; Zec 10:10
nSee Jer 31:24
oSee Isa 51:16; See Eze 11:19–20; See 36:28; See Zec 2:11; Heb 8:10
p Jer 11:4; Zec 10:6
qSee Hag 2:4
rSee Ezr 5:1
sSee Ezr 3:11
tSee Isa 5:10; See Hag 1:6
uSee 2 Ch 15:5
v Isa 12:1
wSee Ps 85:12; See Joel 2:22
xSee Ps 67:6
ySee Ge 27:28
zSee Ps 65:13; See Isa 60:21; Ob 1:17
aSee Hos 2:21
bSee Nu 5:27; See Dt 13:15; See Ps 102:8; Jer 42:18
cSee Ps 48:8
dSee Ge 12:2; See Joel 2:14
eSee Hag 2:5
fver 9
gSee Eze 24:14
hver 13; See Jer 29:11; Mic 7:18–20
i Jer 31:28; 32:42
jSee Ps 15:2; See Jer 33:16; See Eph 4:25
kSee Eze 18:8
lSee Eze 45:9; See Am 5:15; See Zec 7:9
m Pr 3:29
nSee Pr 6:16–19; See Jer 7:9; Zec 5:4