| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1The word of the LORD of Armies came: | 1Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 2The LORD of Armies says this: "I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath." | 2"The LORD who rules over all says, 'I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.' |
| 3The LORD says this: "I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the LORD of Armies will be called the Holy Mountain." | 3The Lord says, 'I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called "truthful city," "mountain of the LORD who rules over all," "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. | 4Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says, 'Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age. |
| 5The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them." | 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. |
| 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. | 6And,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?' asks the LORD who rules over all. |
| 7The LORD of Armies says this: "I will save my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. | 7"The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. |
| 8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God." | 8And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.' |
| 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. | 9"The LORD who rules over all also says, 'Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the LORD who rules over all, so that the temple might be built. |
| 10For prior to those days neither man nor animal had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor. | 10Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody--each one--against everyone else. |
| 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. | 11But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,' says the LORD who rules over all, |
| 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. | 12for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things. |
| 13As you have been a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Don't be afraid; let your hands be strong." | 13And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!' |
| 14For the LORD of Armies says this: "As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked me to anger, and I did not relent," says the LORD of Armies, | 14"For the LORD who rules over all says, 'As I had planned to hurt you when your fathers made me angry,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'and I was not sorry, |
| 15"so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don't be afraid. | 15so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah--do not fear! |
| 16These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates. | 16These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts. |
| 17Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this"--this is the LORD's declaration. | 17Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath--these are all things that I hate,' says the LORD." |
| 18Then the word of the LORD of Armies came to me: | 18The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 19"The LORD of Armies says this: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace." | 19"The LORD who rules over all says, 'The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.' |
| 20The LORD of Armies says this: "Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities; | 20The LORD who rules over all says, 'It will someday come to pass that people--residents of many cities--will come. |
| 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. | 21The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, "Let's go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I'll go with you."' |
| 22Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the LORD's favor." | 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. |
| 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, for we have heard that God is with you." | 23The LORD who rules over all says, 'In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of--indeed, grab--the robe of one Jew and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'" |
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