¹ Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, ² So says the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. ³ So says the LORD; I am returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem will be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. ⁴ So says the LORD of hosts; There will yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. ⁵ And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in the streets of it. ⁶ So says the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes? says the LORD of hosts. ⁷ So says the LORD of hosts; See, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; ⁸ And I will bring them, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. ⁹ So says the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. ¹⁰ For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. ¹¹ But now I will not be to the residue of this people as in the former days, says the LORD of hosts. ¹² For the seed will be prosperous; the vine will give her fruit, and the ground will give her increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these [things]. ¹³ And it will come to pass, that as you were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you will be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. ¹⁴ For so says the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the LORD of hosts, and I repented not ¹⁵ So again have I thought in these days to do well to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear you not. ¹⁶ These are the things that you will do Speak you every man the truth to his neighbour execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates ¹⁷ And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD. ¹⁸ And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, ¹⁹ So says the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, will be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. ²⁰ So says the LORD of hosts; It will yet come to pass, that there will come people, and the inhabitants of many cities ²¹ And the inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. ²² Yes, many people and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. ²³ So says the LORD of hosts; In those days it will come to pass, that ten men will take hold out of all languages of the nations, even will take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew , saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God [is] with you.