8 2 Of the return of the people unto Jerusalem, and of the mercy of God toward them. 16 Of good works. 20 The calling of the Gentiles.
1 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,
2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I was [a]jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great wrath.
3 Thus saith the Lord, I will return unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a [b]city of truth, and the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy Mountain.
4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, There shall yet old [c]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 shall be full of boys and girls, playing in the streets thereof.
6 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Though it be [d]impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it therefore be impossible in my sight, saith the Lord of hosts?
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will deliver my people from the East country, and from the West country.
8 And I will bring them, and they shall [e]dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in truth, and in righteousness.
9 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Let your [f]hands be strong, ye 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 [g]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, everyone against his neighbor.
11 But now, I will not entreat the residue of this people as aforetime, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 For the seed shall be prosperous: the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, so will I deliver you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, As I thought to punish[h]you, when your fathers provoked me unto wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and repented not,
15 So again have I determined in these days [i]to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16 These are the things that ye shall do, Speak ye every man the truth unto his neighbor: execute judgment truly, and uprightly in your gates,
17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are the things that I hate, saith the Lord.
18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, saying,
19 Thus saith 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 [j]tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and prosperous high feasts: therefore love the truth and peace.
20 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, That there shall yet come [k]people, and the inhabitants of great cities.
21 And they that dwell in one city, shall go to another, saying, (A)Up, let us go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.
22 Yea great people and mighty nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.
23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days shall ten men take hold out of all languages of the nations, even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, and say, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 8:2 I loved my city with a singular love, so that I could not abide that any should do her any injury.
- Zechariah 8:3 Because she shall be faithful and loyal toward me her husband.
- Zechariah 8:4 Though their enemies did greatly molest and trouble them, yet God would come and dwell among them, and so preserve them so long as nature would suffer them to live, and increase their children in great abundance.
- Zechariah 8:6 He showeth wherein our faith standeth, that is, to believe that God can perform that which he hath promised, though it seem never so impossible to man, Gen. 18:14; Rom. 4:20.
- Zechariah 8:8 So that their return shall not be in vain: for God will accomplish his promise, and their prosperity shall be sure and stable.
- Zechariah 8:9 Let neither respect of your private commodities neither counsel of others, nor fear of enemies discourage you in the going forward with the building of the Temple, but be constant and obey the Prophets, which encourage you thereunto.
- Zechariah 8:10 For God cursed your work, so that neither man nor beast had profit of their labors.
- Zechariah 8:14 Read Ezek. 18:20.
- Zechariah 8:15 Which declareth that man cannot turn to God till he changes man’s heart by his spirit, and so begin to do well, which is to pardon his sins and to give him his graces.
- Zechariah 8:19 Which fast was appointed when the city was besieged, and was the first fast of these four: and here the Prophet showeth, that if the Jews will repent, and turn wholly to God, they shall have no more occasion to fast, or to show signs of heaviness: for God will send them joy and gladness.
- Zechariah 8:20 He declareth the great zeal that God should give the Gentiles to come to his Church, and to join with the Jews in his true religion, which should be in the kingdom of Christ.