8Zechariah 8

The Promises to Restore Jerusalem

1The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:Select Zechariah 8:1

2“I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people, a love which has made me angry with her enemies.Select Zechariah 8:2

3I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. It will be known as the faithful city, and the hill of the Lord Almighty will be called the sacred hill.Select Zechariah 8:3

4Once again old men and women, so old that they use canes when they walk, will be sitting in the city squares.Select Zechariah 8:4

5And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing.Select Zechariah 8:5

6“This may seem impossible to those of the nation who are now left, but it's not impossible for me.Select Zechariah 8:6

7I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken,Select Zechariah 8:7

8and will bring them back from east and west to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, ruling over them faithfully and justly.Select Zechariah 8:8

9“Have courage! You are now hearing the same words the prophets spoke at the time the foundation was being laid for rebuilding my Temple.Select Zechariah 8:9

10Before that time no one could afford to hire either men or animals, and no one was safe from enemies. I turned people against one another.Select Zechariah 8:10

11But now I am treating the survivors of this nation differently.Select Zechariah 8:11

12They will plant their crops in peace. Their vines will bear grapes, the earth will produce crops, and there will be plenty of rain. I will give all these blessings to the people of my nation who survive.Select Zechariah 8:12

13People of Judah and Israel! In the past foreigners have cursed one another by saying, ‘May the same disasters fall on you that fell on Judah and Israel!’ But I will save you, and then those foreigners will say to one another, ‘May you receive the same blessings that came to Judah and Israel!’ So have courage and don't be afraid.”Select Zechariah 8:13

14The Lord Almighty says, “When your ancestors made me angry, I planned disaster for them and did not change my mind, but carried out my plans.Select Zechariah 8:14

15But now I am planning to bless the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So don't be afraid.Select Zechariah 8:15

16These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another. In the courts give real justice—the kind that brings peace.Select Zechariah 8:16

17Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence.”Select Zechariah 8:17

18The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:Select Zechariah 8:18

19“The fasts held in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become festivals of joy and gladness for the people of Judah. You must love truth and peace.”Select Zechariah 8:19

20The Lord Almighty says, “The time is coming when people from many cities will come to Jerusalem.Select Zechariah 8:20

21Those from one city will say to those from another, ‘We are going to worship the Lord Almighty and pray for his blessing. Come with us!’Select Zechariah 8:21

22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord Almighty and to pray for his blessing.Select Zechariah 8:22

23In those days ten foreigners will come to one Jew and say, ‘We want to share in your destiny, because we have heard that God is with you.’”Select Zechariah 8:23