Zechariah 8

The LORD Returns to Zion

1Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came: 2Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“I am deeply jealous for Zion,
with great jealousy,
and with great fury
I am jealous for her. 3Thus says the LORD:

I have returned to Zion
and will dwell among Jerusalem.
Jerusalem will be called
the City of Truth,
and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts,
the Holy Mountain.

Old and Young in the Streets

4Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

Old men and old women
will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem,
each with a staff in hand
because of great age. 5And the streets of the city
will be filled with boys and girls
playing in its streets. 6Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

If this is marvelous
in the eyes of the remnant of this people
in those days,
will it also be marvelous in my eyes?
says the LORD of Hosts.

I Will Bring My People Home

7Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

Look, I am saving my people
from the land of the sunrise
and from the land of the setting sun. 8I will bring them,
and they will dwell in Jerusalem.
They will be my people,
and I will be their God,
in truth and in righteousness.

Let Your Hands Be Strong

9Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present when the foundation of the house of the LORD of Hosts was laid, so that the temple might be built. 10For before those days there was no wage for a person and no wage for an animal. There was no peace from the enemy for the one going out or coming in, for I set everyone against their neighbor. 11But now I will not be toward the remnant of this people as in former days, says the LORD of Hosts. 12For there will be a sowing of peace:
the vine will give its fruit,
the ground will give its produce,
and the heavens will give their dew.
I will cause the remnant of this people
to inherit all these things. 13And just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will become a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.”

I Have Purposed to Do Good

14For thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you when your ancestors provoked me to wrath, says the LORD of Hosts, and I did not relent, 15so again in these days I have purposed to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid. 16These are the things you will do:

Speak truth to one another;
judge with truth and peaceful justice
in your gates. 17Do not devise evil
against one another in your hearts,
and do not love a false oath,
for all these are things that I hate,
says the LORD.”

Fasts Will Become Feasts

18Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me: 19Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“The fast of the fourth month,
the fast of the fifth,
the fast of the seventh,
and the fast of the tenth
will become joy and gladness
and good appointed festivals
for the house of Judah.

So love truth and peace.”

Many Peoples Will Seek the LORD

20Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“Peoples will yet come,
and inhabitants of many cities. 21The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying,
‘Let us go at once
to seek the favor of the LORD
and to seek the LORD of Hosts.
I myself am going.’ 22Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to seek the favor of the LORD.

23Thus says the LORD of Hosts:

“In those days ten people from every language of the nations will take hold of the robe of a Jewish person, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”