9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

n‘Let your hands be strong,

You who have been hearing in these days

These words by the mouth of othe prophets,

Who spoke in pthe day the foundation was laid

For the house of the Lord of hosts,

That the temple might be built.

10 For before these days

There were no qwages for man nor any hire for beast;

There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;

For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

11 rBut now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

12 ‘For sthe 8seed shall be prosperous,

The vine shall give its fruit,

tThe ground shall give her increase,

And uthe heavens shall give their dew—

I will cause the remnant of this people

To possess all these.

13 And it shall come to pass

That just as you were va curse among the nations,

O house of Judah and house of Israel,

So I will save you, and wyou shall be a blessing.

Do not fear,

Let your hands be strong.’