1The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.2This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.’3This is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.’4This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age.5The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.’6This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘It may seem marvellous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvellous to me?’ 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.8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.’9This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Now hear these words, “Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.” This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.10Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No-one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbour.11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,’ declares the Lord Almighty.12‘The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.13Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[1] among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.[2] Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.’ (Ge 48:20; Jer 29:22)14This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,’ says the Lord Almighty,15‘so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.16These are the things you are to do: speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;17do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,’ declares the Lord.18The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.19This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’20This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, “Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.”22And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.’23This 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.” ’
Zechariah 8
English Standard Version
The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion
1And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying,2“Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. (Zec 1:14)3Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. (Isa 1:26; Isa 2:3; Zec 1:16; Zec 2:10)4Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. (Ps 128:6; Pr 10:27)5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.6Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? (Ge 18:14; Ps 118:23)7Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, (Ps 107:3; Isa 43:5; Isa 49:12; Eze 37:21; Zec 10:6)8and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Jer 4:2; Jer 31:33; Zec 13:9)9Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. (2Sa 16:21; Ezr 5:1; Hag 2:4; Hag 2:18; Zec 7:3)10For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. (Hag 1:6)11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts.12For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. (Jer 3:18; Ho 2:21; Hag 1:10; Hag 2:19)13And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” (Ge 12:2; Isa 43:28; Isa 65:15; Hag 2:5; Zec 8:9; Zec 10:6)14For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, (Jer 31:28; Jer 32:42)15so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. (Zec 8:13)16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; (Ps 15:2; Zec 7:9; Zec 8:19; Eph 4:25)17do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” (Zec 5:4; Zec 7:10)18And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,19“Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace. (2Ki 25:1; Isa 35:10; Jer 39:2; Zec 7:3; Zec 7:5; Zec 8:16)20“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.21The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ (Isa 2:3; Zec 2:11; Zec 7:2; Zec 14:16)22Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. (Zec 8:21)23Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (Ge 31:7; Isa 66:18; 1Co 14:25; Re 5:9)