| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, | 1The word of the LORD of Armies came: |
| 2“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’ | 2The LORD of Armies says this: "I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath." |
| 3“Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ | 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." |
| 4“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. | 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 Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.’ | 5The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them." |
| 6“Thus 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. | 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. |
| 7“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east And from the land of the west; | 7The LORD of Armies says this: "I will save my people from the land of the east and the land of the west. |
| 8I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.’ | 8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God." |
| 9“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, You who have been hearing in these days These words by the mouth of the prophets, Who spoke in the day the foundation was laid For the house of the LORD of hosts, That the temple might be built. | 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 before these days There were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in; For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor. | 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. |
| 11But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the LORD of hosts. | 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 the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these. | 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. |
| 13And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’ | 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." |
| 14“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I would not relent, | 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, |
| 15So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear. | 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. |
| 16These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; | 16These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates. |
| 17Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.” | 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. |
| 18Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, | 18Then the word of the LORD of Armies came to me: |
| 19“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’ | 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." |
| 20“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; | 20The LORD of Armies says this: "Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities; |
| 21The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also.” | 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. |
| 22Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.’ | 22Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the LORD's favor." |
| 23“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ” | 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." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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