Zechariah 8

1 The word of YHWH of hosts came to me.

Then the Lord Almighty sent another message to me.

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

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

3 Thus says YHWH: "I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called 'The City of Truth;' and the mountain of YHWH of hosts, 'The Holy Mountain.'"

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.”

4 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

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.

5 The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets."

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

6 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?" says YHWH of hosts.

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.

7 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "Look, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

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

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

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.

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

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.

10 For before those days there was no wages for man, nor any wages for an animal; neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbor.

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.

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

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

12 "For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.

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.

13 It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid. Let your hands be strong."

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!

14 For thus says YHWH of hosts: "As I thought to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath," says YHWH of hosts, "and I did not repent;

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.

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

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

16 These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates,

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

17 and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate," says YHWH.

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

18 The word of YHWH of hosts came to me.

The Lord Almighty gave me another message.

19 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "The fasts of the fourth fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace."

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.

20 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;

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

21 and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of YHWH, and to seek YHWH of hosts. I will go also.'

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!”

22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek YHWH of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of YHWH."

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

23 Thus says YHWH of hosts: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

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.”