Zechariah 8

Revised Geneva Translation

8 Again the Word of the LORD of Hosts came, saying,

² “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘I was zealous for Zion with great zeal! And I was zealous for her with great wrath!’

³ “Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth, and the Mountain of the LORD of Hosts, the Holy Mountain.’

⁴ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘There, old men and old women shall still dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand because of age.

⁵ ‘And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls, playing in her streets.’

⁶ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘Even if it is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it therefore be impossible in My sight?’ says the LORD of Hosts.

⁷ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘Behold, I will deliver My people from the East country, and from the West country.

⁸ ‘And I will bring them. And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people. And I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.’

⁹ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who today hear these Words by the mouths of the Prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the House of the LORD of Hosts was laid, so that the Temple might be built.

¹⁰ ‘For before these days, there were no wages for man, or any hire for beast. Nor was there any peace for him who went out or came in, because of the affliction. For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

¹¹ ‘But now, I will not treat the rest of this people as before,’ says the LORD of Hosts.

¹² ‘For the seed shall be prosperous. The vine shall give her fruit. And the ground shall give her increase. And the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

¹³ ‘And it shall happen at that time that as you were a curse among the heathen, O House of Judah, and House of Israel, so I will deliver you. And you shall be a blessing. Do not fear! Let your hands be strong!’

¹⁴ “For thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the LORD of Hosts, ‘and did not repent,

¹⁵ ‘So again have I determined in these days to do well to Jerusalem, and to the House of Judah. Do not fear.

¹⁶ ‘These are the things that you shall do: Every man speak the truth to his neighbor. Execute judgment truly and uprightly in your gates.

¹⁷ ‘And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor. And love no false oath. For these are all things that I hate,’ says the LORD.”

¹⁸ And the Word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying,

¹⁹ “Thus says 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 joy and gladness to the House of Judah, and prosperous High Feasts. Therefore, love the truth and peace.’

²⁰ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘People shall still come, the inhabitants of great cities.

²¹ ‘And those who dwell in one shall go to another, saying, “Up! Let us go and pray before the LORD and seek the LORD of Hosts! I will go also!”

²² ‘Yea, great people and mighty nations shall come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.’

²³ “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘In those days, ten men shall take hold—out of all languages of the nations— take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, and say, ‘We will go with you! For we have heard that God is with you!’”