| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, | 1Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: |
| 2“Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and 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.' |
| 3Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, 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."' |
| 4Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with 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 shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. | 5And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. |
| 6Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, 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. |
| 7Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, | 7"The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west. |
| 8and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” | 8And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.' |
| 9Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. | 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 there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set 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 deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, 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, |
| 12For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. | 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. |
| 13And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but 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 thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, 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, |
| 15so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. | 15so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah--do not fear! |
| 16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; | 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 devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, 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." |
| 18And 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“Thus 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 shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. 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.' |
| 20“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants 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 inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of 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."' |
| 22Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. | 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. |
| 23Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of 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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