The Father Returns to His City
8 1 The word of the Father of heaven's armies came to me, saying:
2 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy; with burning wrath I am jealous for her.
3 This is what our Father says: I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Father of heaven's armies, the Holy Mountain.
4 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Old men and women will again sit in Jerusalem's streets, each holding a staff for great age. 5 And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.
6 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: If it seems too marvelous to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be too marvelous to me? says the Father of heaven's armies.
7 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: See, I am saving my people from the land of the sunrise and the land of the sunset. 8 I will bring them home to live within Jerusalem. They will be my children, and I their Father, in truth and righteousness.
9 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouth of the prophets who spoke when the foundation of the house of the Father of heaven's armies was laid, so the temple could be built. 10 Before then no wages came for man or beast, and no one going out or coming in was safe from the enemy, for I set everyone against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in former days, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 12 There will be a sowing of peace: the vine gives its fruit, the land its produce, the heavens their dew. And I will give the remnant of this people all these as an inheritance. 13 As you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.
14 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: As I planned disaster for you when your ancestors provoked me to anger, and did not change my mind, says the Father of heaven's armies, 15 so again in these days I have determined to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don't be afraid. 16 Do these things: Speak truth to each other; judge with truth and justice for peace in your gates. a a v16 City gates were the ancient equivalent of a courthouse — where legal disputes were publicly heard and decided. 17 Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love a false oath, for I hate all these, declares our Father.
18 And the word of the Father of heaven's armies came to me, saying:
19 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joy, delight, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. So love truth and peace. b b v19 These four fasts mourned the siege and fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple; our Father promises to turn each season of grief into a feast of joy.
20 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Peoples will yet come, residents of many cities. 21 The people of one city will go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to seek the favor of our Father, to seek the Father of heaven's armies; I myself will go.' 22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Father of heaven's armies in Jerusalem and to seek our Father's favor. 23 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: In those days ten men from all languages of the nations will grasp the robe of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we've heard God is with you.'
