| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, | 1Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 2“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’ | 2"The LORD who rules over all says, 'I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.' |
| 3“Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ | 3The Lord says, 'I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called "truthful city," "mountain of the LORD who rules over all," "holy mountain."' |
| 4“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. | 4Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says, 'Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age. |
| 5The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.’ | 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. |
| 6“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ Says the LORD of hosts. | 6And,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?' asks the LORD who rules over all. |
| 7“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east And from the land of the west; | 7"The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. |
| 8I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.’ | 8And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.' |
| 9“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, You who have been hearing in these days These words by the mouth of the prophets, Who spoke in the day the foundation was laid For the house of the LORD of hosts, That the temple might be built. | 9"The LORD who rules over all also says, 'Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the LORD who rules over all, so that the temple might be built. |
| 10For before these days There were no wages 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. | 10Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody--each one--against everyone else. |
| 11But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the LORD of hosts. | 11But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,' says the LORD who rules over all, |
| 12‘For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these. | 12for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things. |
| 13And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’ | 13And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!' |
| 14“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I would not relent, | 14"For the LORD who rules over all says, 'As I had planned to hurt you when your fathers made me angry,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'and I was not sorry, |
| 15So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear. | 15so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah--do not fear! |
| 16These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; | 16These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts. |
| 17Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.” | 17Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath--these are all things that I hate,' says the LORD." |
| 18Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, | 18The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 19“Thus 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, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’ | 19"The LORD who rules over all says, 'The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.' |
| 20“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; | 20The LORD who rules over all says, 'It will someday come to pass that people--residents of many cities--will come. |
| 21The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also.” | 21The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, "Let's go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I'll go with you."' |
| 22Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.’ | 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. |
| 23“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ” | 23The LORD who rules over all says, 'In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of--indeed, grab--the robe of one Jew and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'" |
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