 1 The Word of the Lord of hosts came to me saying, 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion, and will live in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: There shall yet be old men and old women living in the streets of Jerusalem, and each man with his staff in his hand because of their many days. 5 The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it 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? 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the land of the setting sun. 8 I will bring them and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will 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, you who hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, that in the day the house of the Lord of hosts is laid, the temple is to be built. 10 For before these days there was no payment for man, nor was there payment for animal. And there was no peace to him from the adversary who went out or came in. For I sent every man, a man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the Lord of hosts. 12 For the seed will be blessed. The vine will give its fruit. The ground will give its increase. The heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 As you were a curse among the nations house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not fear but be strong. 14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: As I had thought to punish you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the Lord of hosts, and I did not relent+, 15 yet now I have thought in these days to do well to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Therefore do not be afraid. 16 These are the things that you shall do. Each man speak the truth to his neighbor. Judge with truth and justice for peace in your gates. 17 Let each devise no evil in your heart against his neighbor. And love no false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the Lord. 18 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 for joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace. 20 Thus says the Lord of hosts: There yet shall be people and inhabitants of many cities; 21 and the residents of one shall go to another saying, Let us go at once to seek favor of the face of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also. 22 Many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to seek the favor of the face of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men, out of all languages of the nations, shall take hold, and will seize the skirt of a man, a Jew saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
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