| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: | 1This is this message from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies: |
| 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.' | 2"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'I'm greatly jealous about Zion, and that makes me furious about her.' |
| 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."' | 3"This is what the LORD says: 'I will return to Zion and I will live in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem will be called, "The City of Truth" and the mountain of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will be called, "The Holy Mountain".' |
| 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. | 4"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'There will yet be old men and old women sitting in the parks of Jerusalem, each one of them holding canes in their hands due to their old age! |
| 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. | 5The city parks will be filled with boys and girls. They will play in the city's open parks.' |
| 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. | 6"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'It may seem impossible to the survivors of this people, but is it impossible for me?' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. |
| 7"The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. | 7"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'Look! After having saved my people from the land of the east and from the land of the west, |
| 8And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.' | 8I will also bring them back to live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will truly be their righteous God.'" |
| 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. | 9"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'Be strong so the Temple can be built, you who are now listening to this message spoken by the prophets when the foundation was laid to the Temple of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. |
| 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. | 10Before then, everyone was unemployed—even the draft animals—and no one was safe coming or going because of the enemy, because I caused everyone to oppose each other. |
| 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, | 11"'But now I will not treat the survivors of this people as I did formerly,' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. |
| 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. | 12For there will be a sowing of peace: the vine will produce its fruit, the earth will produce its full yield, the sky will produce its dew, and I will make the survivors of this people inherit all these things. |
| 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!' | 13Furthermore, house of Judah and house of Israel, even though you used to be a curse among the nations, now I will surely save you, and you will be a blessing. Stop being afraid. Instead, grow stronger.'" |
| 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, | 14"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'Just as I intended to bring harm to you when your ancestors angered me,' says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, 'and I did not relent, |
| 15so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah--do not fear! | 15so I have decided at this time to do good things for Jerusalem and for the house of Judah. So stop being afraid. |
| 16These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts. | 16Here's what you must do: tell the truth to your neighbors, administer true and peaceful justice in your courtrooms, |
| 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." | 17don't plot evil in your heart against a neighbor, and don't tolerate false testimonies, because I hate all these things,' declares the LORD." |
| 18The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: | 18Once again this message from the LORD come to me: |
| 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.' | 19"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'The fasts that occur in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will be joyful and glad times for the house of Judah, replete with cheerful festivals. Therefore, love truth and peace.'" |
| 20The LORD who rules over all says, 'It will someday come to pass that people--residents of many cities--will come. | 20"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'In the future, people will come, including residents of many cities, |
| 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."' | 21and they will travel from one place to another place and say, "Let's go quickly to pray in the presence of the LORD and to inquire of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.' And I will go, too. |
| 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. | 22Many people and powerful nations will come to inquire of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies in Jerusalem, and to pray in the presence of the LORD."'" |
| 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."'" | 23"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'In the future, ten men speaking all the languages of the nations will grab hold of one Jewish person by the hem of his garment and say, "Let us go up to Jerusalem with you, because we heard that God is with you."'" |
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