Zechariah 8 - Living Bible (TLB)

8 Again the Lord’s message came to me:

2 The Lord Almighty says, “I am greatly concerned—yes, furiously angry—because of all that Jerusalem’s enemies have done to her. 3 Now I am going to return to my land, and I, myself, will live within Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem shall be called ‘The Faithful City,’ and ‘The Holy Mountain,’ and ‘The Mountain of the Lord Almighty.’”

4 The Lord Almighty declares that Jerusalem will have peace and prosperity so long that there will once again be aged men and women hobbling through her streets on canes, 5 and the streets will be filled with boys and girls at play.

6 The Lord says, “This seems unbelievable to you—a remnant, small, discouraged as you are—but it is no great thing for me. 7 You can be sure that I will rescue my people from east and west, wherever they are scattered. 8 I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem, and they will be my people, and I will be their God, just and true and yet forgiving them their sins!”[a]

9 The Lord Almighty says, “Get on with the job and finish it! You have been listening long enough! For since you began laying the foundation of the Temple, the prophets have been telling you about the blessings that await you when it’s finished. 10 Before the work began there were no jobs, no wages, no security; if you left the city, there was no assurance you would ever return, for crime was rampant.

11 “But it is all so different now!” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “For I am sowing peace and prosperity among you. Your crops will prosper; the grapevines will be weighted down with fruit; the ground will be fertile, with plenty of rain; all these blessings will be given to the people left in the land. 13 ‘May you be as poor as Judah,’ the heathen used to say to those they cursed! But no longer! For now Judah is a word of blessing, not a curse. ‘May you be as prosperous and happy as Judah is,’ they’ll say. So don’t be afraid or discouraged! Get on with rebuilding the Temple! 14-15 If you do, I will certainly bless you. And don’t think that I might change my mind. I did what I said I would when your fathers angered me and I promised to punish them, and I won’t change this decision of mine to bless you. 16 Here is your part: Tell the truth. Be fair. Live at peace with everyone. 17 Don’t plot harm to others; don’t swear that something is true when it isn’t! How I hate all that sort of thing!” says the Lord.

18 Here is another message that came to me from the Lord Almighty:

19 “The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in July, August, October, and January[b] are ended. They will be changed to joyous festivals if you love truth and peace! 20-21 People from around the world will come on pilgrimages and pour into Jerusalem from many foreign cities to attend these celebrations. People will write their friends in other cities and say, ‘Let’s go to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us and be merciful to us. I’m going! Please come with me. Let’s go now!’ 22 Yes, many people, even strong nations, will come to the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem to ask for his blessing and help. 23 In those days ten men from ten different nations will clutch at the coat sleeves of one Jew and say, ‘Please be my friend, for I know that God is with you.’”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:8 just and true and yet forgiving them their sins, literally, “in truth and in righteousness.”
  2. Zechariah 8:19 July, August, October, and January, literally, “fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months” of the Hebrew calendar.

You Might Also Like:

Zechariah 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 And there is a word of Jehovah of Hosts, saying: 2 `Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: I have been zealous for Zion with great zeal, With great heat I have been zealous for her. 3 Thus said Jehovah: I have turned back unto Zion, And I have dwelt in the midst of Jerusalem, And Jerusalem hath been called `...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 And the word of the Lord of hosts was made to me, and said, 2 The Lord of hosts saith these things, I hated Zion with great fervor, and with great indignation I hated it. (The Lord of hosts saith these things, I hated the enemies of Zion with great fervor, and I hated them with great indignation.)...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 The word of Yahweh of Armies came to me. 2 Yahweh of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.” 3 Yahweh says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the moun...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 1-2 The word of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, came, this time bringing a series of five short messages about hope.Eternal One: First, I have a jealous desire to be among My people in Zion. I want it more than anything. I am burning with angry jealousy for her and her welfare. 3 Second...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Zealous for Zion8 Then the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: 2 “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her.” 3 Thus says Adonai, “I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and t...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

God’s Promises to Zion8 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem s...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God’s Promises to Zion8 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem s...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

God’s Promises to Zion8 The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be c...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

God’s Promises to Zion8 The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Zion with great zeal, and I am zealous for her with great wrath.(A)3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be calle...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Promised Blessings for Jerusalem8 Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem! 3 “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Lord Promises to Build Jerusalem Again8 Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “The Lord of All says, ‘I am very jealous for Zion. I am jealous for her with much anger.’ 3 The Lord says, ‘I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and ...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Jerusalem, Holy City of the Future8 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:(A)‘I am [a]zealous for Zion with great [b]zeal;With great [c]fervor I am zealous for her.’ 3 “Thus says the Lord:(B)‘I will return to Zion,And (C)dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.Jer...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The Lord promises to bless Jerusalem8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.’ 3 This is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Fait...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New International Version (NIV)

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem8 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous(A) for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” 3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return(B) to Zion(C) and dwell in Jerusalem.(D) Then Jerusalem will be cal...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem8 A message came to me from the Lord who rules over all.He said, 2 “I am very jealous for my people in Zion. In fact, I am burning with jealousy for them.” 3 He continued, “I will return to Zion. I will live among my people in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be ca...
Read More

Zechariah 8 - New English Translation (NET)

The Blessing of True Fasting8 Then the message of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies[a] came to me as follows: 2 “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies 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.’ 3 The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zio...
Read More