Zechariah, 8

1. The word of Yahweh Sabaoth came as follows:

1. And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,

2. Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I have been burning with jealousy for Zion, with furious jealousy for her sake.

2. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.

3. Yahweh says this: I am coming back to Zion and shall live in the heart of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called Faithful City and the mountain of Yahweh Sabaoth, the Holy Mountain.

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

4. Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Aged men and women once again will sit in the squares of Jerusalem, each with a stick to lean on because of their great age.

4. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand for very age.

5. And the squares of the city will be full of boys and girls playing there.

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

6. Yahweh Sabaoth says this: If this seems a miracle to the remnant of this people (in those days), will it seem one to me? declares Yahweh.

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

7. Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Look, I shall rescue my people from the countries of the east and from the countries of the west.

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

8. I shall bring them back to live in the heart of Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I shall be their God, faithful and just.

8. and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."

9. 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Take heart, you who today hear these promises uttered by the prophets since the day when the foundations of the Temple of Yahweh Sabaoth were laid, that the sanctuary would indeed be rebuilt.

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

10. For up to now, men were not paid their wages and nothing was paid for the animals either; and it has not been safe for anyone to come and go, because of the enemy, since I had set each one against everyone else.

10. For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in; for I set every man against his fellow.

11. But from now on, I shall not treat the remnant of this people as I have treated them in time past -- declares Yahweh Sabaoth.

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

12. Now they will sow in peace; the vine will give its fruit, the soil will give its produce and heaven will give its dew. I shall bestow all these on the remnant of this people.

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

13. Just as once you were a curse among the nations, House of Judah and House of Israel, so now I shall save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid. Take heart!"

13. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong."

14. 'For Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Just as I resolved to ill-treat you when your ancestors provoked me to anger and did not relent -- says Yahweh Sabaoth-

14. For thus says the LORD of hosts: "As I purposed to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts,

15. so now I have changed my mind and intend to treat Jerusalem and the House of Judah well. Do not be afraid!

15. so again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.

16. "These are the things that you must do. Speak the truth to one another; at your gates, administer fair judgement conducive to peace;

16. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace,

17. do not secretly plot evil against one another; do not love perjury; since I hate all this -- Yahweh declares." '

17. do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, says the LORD."

18. The word of Yahweh Sabaoth was addressed to me as follows:

18. And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,

19. 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth are to become glad, joyful, happy festivals for the House of Judah. So love truth and peace!" '

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 seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love truth and peace.

20. 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "In the future, peoples and citizens of many cities will come;

20. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities;

21. and citizens of one city will go to the next and say: We must certainly go to entreat Yahweh's favour and seek out Yahweh Sabaoth; I am going myself.

21. the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, `Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I am going.'

22. Yes, many peoples and great nations will seek out Yahweh Sabaoth in Jerusalem and entreat Yahweh's favour."

22. Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the LORD.

23. 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "In those days, ten men from nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say: We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you." '

23. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, `Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"