Zechariah 8:1-13 ▼

1 AGAIN the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am moved for Zion with great zeal. I am moved for her with great indignation.

3 Thus says the LORD: I will be comforted in Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.

4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: From henceforth old men and old women shall sit in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand because of his age.

5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing.

6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: If this thing is marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my sight? says the LORD of hosts.

7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country;

8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Let your hands be strong, all of you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were since the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

10 For before those days and before that time there was no wage for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in because of the oppressor; for behold, I incited all men every one against his neighbor.

11 But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in former days, says the LORD of hosts.

12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give its fruit and the ground shall yield its increase and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

13 And it shall come to pass that as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing; so let your hands be strong, fear not.