Chapter 8

Again the word of the LORD of hosts came [to me], saying,²

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; I was jealous¹⁴ for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous¹⁴ for her with great fury.

Thus saith¹ the LORD; I am returned¹ unto Zion, and will dwell¹ in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called⁸ a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell⁴ in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

And the streets of the city shall be full¹¹ of boys and girls playing¹⁸ in the streets thereof.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous¹¹ in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous¹¹ in mine eyes? saith⁷ the LORD of hosts.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save⁵⁶ my people from the east country, and from the west ⁸¹²¹ country;

And I will bring⁵² them, and they shall dwell¹ in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong,⁴ ye that hear⁶ in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which [were] in the day [that] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid,²⁷ that the temple might be built.⁹

For before these days there was⁸ no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out⁶ or came in⁶ because of the affliction: for I set¹⁷ all men every one against his neighbour.

But now I [will] not [be] unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith⁷ the LORD of hosts.

For the seed [shall be] prosperous; the vine shall give⁴ her fruit, and the ground shall give⁴ her increase, and the heavens shall give⁴ their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess⁵² all these [things].

And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save⁵⁵ you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear⁴ not, [but] let your hands be strong.⁴

For thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; As I thought¹ to punish⁵³ you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath,⁵³ saith¹ the LORD of hosts, and I repented⁸ not:

So again¹ have I thought¹ in these days to do well⁵³ unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear⁴ ye not.

These [are] the things that ye shall do;⁴ Speak¹⁶ ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute³ the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

And let none of you imagine⁴ evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love⁴ no false oath: for all these [are things] that I hate,¹ saith⁷ the LORD.

And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,²

Thus saith¹ 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 joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love³ the truth and peace.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come⁴ people, and the inhabitants⁶ of many cities:

And the inhabitants⁶ of one [city] shall go¹ to another, saying,² Let us go⁴ speedily² to pray¹⁵ before the LORD, and to seek¹⁵ the LORD of hosts: I will go⁴ also.

Yea, many people and strong nations shall come¹ to seek¹⁵ the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray¹⁵ before the LORD.

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold⁵⁵ out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold⁵² of the skirt of him that is a Jew, ³⁰⁶⁴ saying,² We will go⁴ with you: for we have heard¹ [that] God [is] with you.