| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Again the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying: | 1Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I am jealous for Zion with great zeal; I am jealous for her with great fervor.” | 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.' |
| 3This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts 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."' |
| 4This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great 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. |
| 5And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” | 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. |
| 6This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts. | 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. |
| 7This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from 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 dwell in Jerusalem, where 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.' |
| 9This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts. | 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 before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man 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 I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts. | 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 the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give 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, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not 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 this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the LORD of Hosts, | 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 now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not 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, render true and sound judgments in your 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 to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD. | 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 Hosts came to me, saying, | 18The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 19“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both 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.' |
| 20This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “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. |
| 21and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am 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."' |
| 22And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” | 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. |
| 23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘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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