Zechariah

The word of GOD of Hosts came [to me]:

Thus said GOD of Hosts: I am very jealous for Zion, I am fiercely jealous for her.

Thus said GOD: I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Faithfulness, and the mount of GOD of Hosts the Holy Mount.

Thus said GOD of Hosts: There shall yet be elderly men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.

And the squares of the city shall be crowded with boys and girls playing in the squares.

Thus said GOD of Hosts: Though it will seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible to Me?—declares GOD of Hosts.

Thus said GOD of Hosts: I will rescue My people from the lands of the east and from the lands of the west,

and I will bring them home to dwell in Jerusalem. They shall be My people, and I will be their God—in truth and sincerity.

Thus said GOD of Hosts: Take courage, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the House of GOD of Hosts.

aCf. Hag. 1.6. For before that time, the earnings from laborbfrom labor Lit. “of a person.” were nil, and profits from livestock were nothing. It was not safe to go about one’s business on account of enemies; and I set every person against someone else.

But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as before—declares GOD of Hosts—

but what it sows shall prosper: The vine shall produce its fruit, the ground shall produce its yield, and the skies shall provide their moisture. I will bestow all these things upon the remnant of this people.

And just as you were a curseca curse I.e., a standard by which people curse; cf. Gen. 12.2 and note; Jer. 24.9. among the nations, O House of Judah and House of Israel, so, when I vindicate you, you shall become a blessing.da blessing I.e., a standard by which people bless; cf. Gen. 12.2 and note. Have no fear; take courage!

For thus said GOD of Hosts: Just as I planned to afflict you and did not relent when your ancestors provoked Me to anger—said GOD of Hosts—

so, at this time, I have turned and planned to do good to Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. Have no fear!

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates.

And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate—declares GOD.

And the word of GOD of Hosts came to me, saying,

Thus said GOD of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month,efast of the fourth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.3–7 (Jer. 52.6ff.). the fast of the fifth month,ffast of the fifth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.8–15 (Jer. 52.12ff.). the fast of the seventh month,gfast of the seventh month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.25–26 (Jer. 41). and the fast of the tenth monthhfast of the tenth month Commemorating the events of 2 Kings 25.1–2 (Jer. 52.4). shall become occasions

Thus said GOD of Hosts: Peoples and the inhabitants of many cities shall yet come—

the inhabitants of one shall go to the other and say, “Let us go and entreat the favor of GOD, let us seek GOD of Hosts; I will go, too.”

The many peoples and the multitude of nations shall come to seek GOD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of GOD.

Thus said GOD of Hosts: In those days, ten people from nations of every tongue will take hold—they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of their cloak and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”