Obedience and Feasting

1 The word of the Lord of Armies came: 2The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealousa for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.” 3The Lord says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City;a the mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.” 4The Lord of Armies says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age. 5The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.” 6The Lord of Armies says this: “Though it may seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible to me? ” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. 7The Lord of Armies says this: “I will save my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.A 8I will bring them backa to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”b

9The Lord of Armies says this: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Armies. 10For prior to those days neither people nor animals had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor. 11But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. 12“For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.a 13As you have been a curse among the nations,a house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.b Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong.” 14For the Lord of Armies says this: “As I resolved to treat you badly when your ancestors provoked me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the Lord of Armies, 15“so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.a Don’t be afraid. 16These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates. 17Do not plot evila in your hearts against your neighbor,b and do not love perjury,c for I hate all this” — this is the Lord’s declaration.

18Then the word of the Lord of Armies came to me: 19The Lord of Armies says this: “The fast of the fourth month,a the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenthb will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.” 20The Lord of Armies says this: “Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities; 21the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the Lord’s favor and to seek the Lord of Armies. I am also going. 22Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor.”a 23The Lord of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you,a for we have heard that God is with you.”