Jerusalem, the City of Truth

1Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came, saying, 2“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘[†]I am jealous with great jealousy for Zion, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3Thus says Yahweh, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the [†]streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of [†]age. 5And the [†]streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its [†]streets.’ 6Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If it is [†]too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be [†]too difficult in My sight?’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 7Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land where the [†]sun rises and from the land where the [†]sun sets; 8and I will bring them back, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in [†]truth and righteousness.’

9“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built. 10For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no [†]peace because of the adversary, and I set all men one against another. 11But now I will not [†]treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 12‘For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13And it will be that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’

14“For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Just as I purposed to bring about evil to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I have not relented, 15so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear! 16These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your [†]gates. 17Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love [†]false oaths; for all these are what I hate,’ declares Yahweh.”

18Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying, 19“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, gladness, and [†]merry appointed feasts for the house of Judah; so love truth and peace.’

20“Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to [†]entreat the favor of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh of hosts; [†]I will also go.” 22So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem and to [†]entreat the favor of Yahweh.’ 23Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from every tongue 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.”’”