Zechariah 8

1 Then the Lord Almighty sent another message to me.

Now this message of the Lord of hosts came to me:

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealously protective of the people of Zion; I am extremely passionate about them.

The Lord of hosts says: I passionately care for Zion, and I am fiercely protective of her.

3 This is what the Lord says. I have returned to Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the “Faithful City,” and the mountain of the Lord Almighty the “Holy Mountain.”

The Lord says, 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 Lord of hosts, “The Holy Mountain.”

4 This is what the Lord Almighty says. Old people will be able to sit again in the streets of Jerusalem, each with their walking sticks they need because of their age.

The Lord of hosts says: Old men and old women will sit again in the squares of Jerusalem, each leaning on a staff because of old age.

5 The streets will be full of boys and girls playing happily.

And the streets of the city will be full of boys, and of girls playing in its squares.

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says. It may seem too good to be true now, to you who remain of my people in these days. But is it impossible for me to do? asks the Lord Almighty.

The Lord of hosts says: Just because it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, is it also impossible for me? says the Lord of hosts.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says. I will save my people from the countries to the east and to the west.

The Lord of hosts says: I will rescue my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.

8 I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I will be their God, trustworthy and true.

I 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.

9 This is what the Lord Almighty says. Be strong, so that the Temple may be completed. Everyone who is here today is listening to the same words from the prophets who were present on the day when the foundation of the Lord Almighty's Temple was laid.

The Lord of 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 Lord of hosts were laid.

10 Before that time there wasn't enough for people or for animals. No one could live normally because they were not safe from their enemies, and I set everyone against each other.

For 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 neighbour.

11 But now I won't treat those who remain of my people like I treated them before, declares the Lord Almighty.

But now I will treat the remnant of the people differently from former days, says the Lord of hosts.

12 They will sow in peace; the vine will produce grapes; the soil will grow crops and the heavens will water them. I will make sure this happens to all those who remain of this people.

Peace 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.

13 People of Judah and Israel: just as you were considered a curse among the nations, so I will save you and you will become a blessing. Don't be afraid! Be strong!

Just 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.

14 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: I decided to bring disaster on you when your forefathers angered me and I did not change my mind.

For the Lord of hosts says: As I planned to do evil to you when your ancestors provoked me to anger, says the Lord of hosts, and I did not relent,

15 But now I have made up my mind to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don't be afraid!

so again have I planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid.

16 This what you have to do: Tell each other the truth. In your courts judge honestly and truthfully, which makes for peace.

These are the things that you should do: Speak the truth to each other. Render peaceful decisions in your gates.

17 Don't think up evil schemes against one another. Stop your love of lies. I hate all this, declares the Lord.

Let none of you devise evil in your heart against one another. Do not love perjury. All these are things I hate, says the Lord.

18 The Lord Almighty gave me another message.

And this message of the Lord of hosts came to me:

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: The fasts you observe in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth month will become times of joy and happiness for the people of Judah—they will be festivals of celebration. But love truth and peace.

The Lord of 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.

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: People from many nations and cities will yet come to Jerusalem,

The Lord of hosts says: Peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will come,

21 going from one city to another saying, “Let us be sure to go and seek the Lord and ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty. I myself am going!”

and the inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, ‘Let us go speedily to entreat the favour of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also.’

22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty and seek the Lord.

Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of the Lord.

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: At that time ten men from different nations and languages will grab hold of the hem of a Jewish man's robe and plead, “Please take us with you for we have heard that God is with you.”

The Lord of hosts says: In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’