Zechariah 8

1Now this message of the Lordof hosts came to me: 2The Lordof hosts says: I passionately care for Zion, and I am fiercely protective of her. 3The Lordsays, I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem will be called, ‘The City of Truth’ and the mountain of the Lordof hosts, ‘The Holy Mountain.’ 4The Lordof hosts says: Old men and old women will sit again in the squares of Jerusalem, each leaning on a staff because of old age. 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys, and of girls playing in its squares. 6The Lordof hosts says: Just because it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, is it also impossible for me? says the Lordof hosts. 7The Lordof hosts says: I will rescue my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. 8I will bring them and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness. 9The Lordof hosts says: Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days the words of the prophets spoken when the foundations for the house of the Lordof hosts were laid. 10For before those days there were no wages for people or animals. No one could go out or return safe from enemies, because I set each against their neighbor. 11But now I will treat the remnant of the people differently from former days, says the Lordof hosts. 12Peace will be sown. The vine will bear its fruit and the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things. 13Just as you were accursed among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. 14For the Lordof hosts says: As I planned to do evil to you when your ancestors provoked me to anger, says the Lordof hosts, and I did not relent, 15so again have I planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid. 16These are the things that you should do: Speak the truth to each other. Render peaceful decisions in your gates. 17Let none of you devise evil in your heart against one another. Do not love perjury. All these are things I hate, says the . Lord 18And this message of the Lordof hosts came to me: 19The Lordof hosts says: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, will be festivals of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace. 20The Lordof hosts says: Peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will come, 21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, “Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of the , Lordand to seek the Lordof hosts; I will go also.” 22Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lordof hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the . Lord