1 And the word of the LORD of hosts came:
2 This is what the LORD of hosts says: I am zealous for Zion with a fierce jealousy; with great fury I am zealous for her.
3 This is what the LORD says: I have come back to Zion and will make my home in the middle of Jerusalem; 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 of hosts says: Once again elderly men and women will sit in Jerusalem's squares, each holding a cane because they have lived so long.
5 The city's squares will be crowded with boys and girls at play.
6 This is what the LORD of hosts says: It may seem too wonderful to the remnant of this people in those days; but must it seem too wonderful to me as well? declares the LORD of hosts.
7 This is what the LORD of hosts says: I am going to rescue my people from the lands of the sunrise and from the lands of the sunset;
8 I will bring them home to live in the heart of Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.
9 This is what the LORD of hosts says: Be strong, all you who are hearing these days the words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid for the building of the temple.
10 Before that time no one was paid for the labor of man or beast, and nobody could go out or come in safe from the enemy, because I had turned everyone against his neighbor.
11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did before, declares the LORD of hosts.
12 For the sowing will be in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land its harvest, and the sky its dew, and I will give all these things to the remnant of this people as their possession.
13 House of Judah and house of Israel, just as you were a curse among the nations, so I will rescue you and you will become a blessing. Do not be afraid; be strong.
14 This is what the LORD of hosts says: When your fathers made me angry, I resolved to bring disaster on you and did not change my mind, says the LORD of hosts;
15 now in these days I have resolved once more to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid.
16 Here is what you must do: tell one another the truth, and in your gates give rulings that are true and bring about peace.
17 Do not plan harm against each other in your hearts, and take no delight in lying oaths; I hate all such things, declares the LORD.
18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me:
19 This is what the LORD of hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become times of joy and gladness and happy festivals for the house of Judah. So love truth and peace.
20 This is what the LORD of hosts says: The day is still coming when peoples will arrive, those who live in many cities;
21 people from one city will go to another and say, "Come, let us go right away to plead for the LORD's favor and to seek the LORD of hosts; I am going myself."
22 Many peoples and mighty nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of hosts and to ask for the LORD's favor.
23 This is what the LORD of hosts says: In those days ten men from nations of every language will take hold, gripping the hem of a Jew's robe, and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."