Zechariah 8
1 Yahweh gave me [another] message. He said,
And it came [the] word of Yahweh of hosts saying.
2 “This is what [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, say: ‘I love [the people of] Jerusalem; I love them very much, and I am very angry with their enemies.’
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts I am jealous for Zion jealousy great and rage great I am jealous for it.
3 So this is what I say: ‘[Some day] I will return to Zion [Hill] and I will live there. [At that time, ] Jerusalem will be called the city [where people] (are faithful to/faithfully obey) me, and [people will say that Zion] Hill [is] holy because it is where the Commander of the armies of angels dwells.’”
Thus he says Yahweh I have returned to Zion and I will dwell in [the] midst of Jerusalem and it will be called Jerusalem [the] city of faithfulness and [the] mountain of Yahweh of hosts [the] mountain of holiness.
4 The Commander of the armies of angels also says this: “[Some day] old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each of them holding a cane because of their being very old.
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts again they will sit old [men] and old [women] in [the] open places of Jerusalem and each staff his [will be] in hand his from abundance of days.
5 And the city streets with be full of boys and girls playing.”
And [the] open places of the city they will be filled boys and girls playing in open places its.
6 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “[When those things happen, ] it will seem marvelous to the people who are still alive, but it certainly will not [RHQ] seem marvelous to me!”
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts if it will be difficult in [the] eyes of [the] remnant of the people this in the days those also in view my will it be difficult? [the] utterance of Yahweh of hosts.
7 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “I will rescue my people from countries to the northeast and to the southwest [to which they were forced to go].
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts here I [am] about to save people my from [the] land of [the] east and from [the] land of [the] setting of the sun.
8 I will bring them back [to Judah], and they will [again] live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will be faithful [to them] and act righteously [toward them].”
And I will bring them and they will dwell in [the] midst of Jerusalem and they will become for me a people and I I will become for them God in faithfulness and in righteousness.
9 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “When the foundation for my temple was laid, there were prophets there who proclaimed messages [from me]. Some of you heard what those prophets said. [So] be brave/courageous [MTY] [while you are building] the temple, in order that you may [finish] building it.
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts let them be strong hands your O those [who] hear in the days these the words these from [the] mouth of the prophets who on [the] day [when] it was founded [the] house of Yahweh of hosts the temple to be rebuilt.
10 Before [you started to rebuild the temple], [no one could hire] men or animals [to work for them, because] there was no money to pay for them. And people were afraid to go anywhere because I had caused people to oppose each other, and [they thought that] there were enemies [everywhere].
For before the days those [the] wage[s] of person not it happened and [the] wage[s] of the animal[s] [was] not it and [belonged] to the [one who] went out and to the [one who] came not peace from the opponent so I may send every person each on neighbor his.
11 But now I will act differently toward [you] people who are still alive, [differently] than I did previously. [That is what I], the Commander of the armies of angels, say.
And now not like the days former I [will be] to [the] remnant of the people this [the] utterance of Yahweh of hosts.
12 [From now on, ] it will be peaceful when you plant [your seeds], and your grapevines will produce grapes, and good crops will grow in your fields. There will be rain. I will give all those things to [you] people who are still alive.
That [the] seed of peace the vine it will give fruit its and the land it will give produce its and the heavens they will give dew their and I will give as an inheritance [the] remnant of the people this all these [things].
13 You [people of] Judah and Israel, [the people of other] nations have cursed you. But I will rescue you, and you will be a blessing [to the people of many nations. So] do not be afraid; work hard [MTY] [to finish building the temple].”
And it will be just as you were a curse among the nations O house of Judah and [the] house of Israel so I will save you and you will be a blessing may not you be afraid let them be strong hands your.
14 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “When your ancestors caused me to become very angry, I decided to punish them. And I did not change my mind.
For thus he says Yahweh of hosts just as I planned to do harm to you when provoked to anger ancestors your me he says Yahweh of hosts and not I relented.
15 But now [I will do something different]. I am planning to do good things to [the people of] Jerusalem and [other towns in] Judah. [So] do not be afraid.
So I have returned I have planned in the days these to do good to Jerusalem and [the] house of Judah may not you be afraid.
16 These are the things that you should do: [You should always] tell the truth to each other. In the courts, [your judges must] make decisions according to what is correct and fair.
These [are] the things which you will do speak truth each with neighbor his faithfulness and justice of peace judge in gates your.
17 Do not plan to do evil things to others, and do not falsely promise [to do things that you know that you will not do]. I hate all those things.”
And each - [the] harm of neighbor his may not you plan in heart your and an oath of falsehood may not you love for all these [are things] which I hate [the] utterance of Yahweh.
18 The Commander of the armies of angels spoke to me [again].
And it came [the] word of Yahweh of hosts to me saying.
19 This is what he said: “The times when you people of Judah (fast/abstain from food) during the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months [of each year] will become good and very happy/joyful [DOU] festivals. But you must want [to speak] truthfully and [be] peaceful.”
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts [the] fast of the fourth [month] and [the] fast of the fifth [month] and [the] fast of the seventh [month] and [the] fast of the tenth [month] it will become for [the] house of Judah joy and gladness and appointed feasts good and truth and peace love.
20 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “[Some day] people from many [people-groups and foreign] cities will come [here to Jerusalem].
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts yet this: they will come peoples and [the] inhabitants of cities many.
21 People from one city will go to [the people in] another [city] and say, ‘Let’s [go together to Jerusalem] to worship Yahweh and ask him to bless us; we [ourselves] are going.’
And they will go [the] inhabitants of one [city] to one [city] saying let us go steadfastly to entreat [the] face of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh of hosts I will go also I.
22 And [people from] many people-groups and [from] powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh and ask him to bless them.”
And they will come peoples many and nations mighty to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat [the] face of Yahweh.
23 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says this: “At that time, [this is what will happen everywhere]: A group of people from one nation or a group of people who speak another language will grab the fringe/edge of the robe of a Jew and say [to him], ‘We have heard [people say] that God is with you. So allow us to go with you [to Jerusalem to worship him].’”
Thus he says Yahweh of hosts in the days those that they will take hold ten people from all [the] tongues of the nations and they will take hold on [the] skirt of a person Jewish saying we want to go with you for we have heard God [is] with you.
