Zechariah 8

Zechariah 8

The Holy City of Peace and Prosperity

1And the word of the Lord came, saying:

2Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.[#Zec 1:14]

3Thus says the Lord : I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be called a city of faithfulness and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the holy mountain.[#Zec 1:16; #Isa 1:26]

4Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Older men and women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each having a staff in his hand because of advanced age.

5And the plazas of the city will be filled with young boys and girls playing in her open places.[#Jer 30:19–20]

6Thus says the Lord of Hosts: If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes? says the Lord of Hosts.[#Jer 32:17, 27]

7Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I will deliver My people from the eastern lands and from the western lands.[#Isa 27:12–13; 49:12]

8And I will bring them, and they will reside in Jerusalem, and they will be for Me as a people, and I will be for them as God, with faithfulness and righteousness.[#Eze 11:20; #Jer 4:2]

9Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Let your hands be strengthened, whoever is hearing these words in these days, from the mouth of the prophets who were there in the day that the house of the Lord of Hosts was founded, that the temple might be built.[#Ezr 5:1–2]

10For before those days there were no wages for a man, nor any hire for an animal; and there was no peace from an enemy for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor.[#Isa 19:2]

11But now I will not be as in the former days against this remnant people, says the Lord of Hosts.[#Ps 103:9; Isa 12:1]

12For sowing will be done in peace, and the vine will produce its fruit, and the ground will provide its produce, and the heavens will give their rain. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all of these benefits.[#Ge 27:28; Lev 26:4–5]

13And as you have been like a curse among the nations, O house of Israel and house of Judah, I will deliver you, and you will be a blessing. Fear not, and strengthen your hands![#Ge 12:2–3; #Zec 8:9]

14Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Just as I had determined to punish you when your fathers incited Me to wrath, says the Lord of Hosts, I did not relent.[#Jer 31:28; #Eze 24:14]

15So again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear![#Mic 7:18–20]

16These are the things you will do: Speak truth each to his neighbor, and make judgments in your gates that are for truth, and justice, and peace.[#Ps 15:2; Eph 4:25; #Zec 7:9]

17Let none of you consider evil plans in your heart against your neighbor, and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things, says the Lord .[#Pr 3:29; #Pr 6:16–19]

18And the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me, saying:

19Thus says the Lord of Hosts: The fast during the fourth and fifth months, and the fasts during the seventh and tenth months, will become rejoicing and joy and pleasant feasts for the house of Judah. So love what brings truth and peace.[#Jer 39:2; #Jer 52:12; Zec 7:5; #2Ki 25:25; #Jer 52:4]

20Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Peoples will still come, even those who live in many cities.[#Zec 2:11; 14:16–17]

21Those who live in one city will journey to another, saying, “Let us surely go to seek the Lord of Hosts. I myself am going.”[#Zec 7:2]

22Many peoples and strong nations will seek out the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord .

23Thus says the Lord of Hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations will take hold of the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”[#1Co 14:25]

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