Zechariah8

The LORD declares His fervent return to Zion, promising to dwell in Jerusalem, which will become a city of truth and holiness, filled with peace and prosperity for all generations. He assures His people of future blessings, transforming their past suffering into joy and making them a blessing among nations. The chapter concludes with a vision of Gentiles seeking the LORD in Jerusalem, recognizing His presence with the Jews.

The Lord's Jealousy for Zion

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And there is a word of Jehovah of Hosts, saying:
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`Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: I have been zealous for Zion with great zeal, With great heat I have been zealous for her.
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Thus said Jehovah: I have turned back unto Zion, And I have dwelt in the midst of Jerusalem, And Jerusalem hath been called `The city of truth,' And the mountain of Jehovah of Hosts, `The holy mountain.'
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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Again dwell do old men and old women, In broad places of Jerusalem, And each his staff in his hand, Because of abundance of days.
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And broad places of the city are full of boys and girls, Playing in its broad places.
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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Surely it is wonderful in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, Also in Mine eyes it is wonderful, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts.
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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Lo, I am saving My people from the land of the rising, And from the land of the going in, of the sun,
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And I have brought them in, They have dwelt in the midst of Jerusalem, And they have been to Me for a people, And I am to them for God, In truth and in righteousness.

Encouragement for the Builders

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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Let your hands be strong, Ye who are hearing in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets, That in the day the house of Jehovah of Hosts Hath been founded, the temple is to be built.
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For, before those days there hath been no hiring of man, Yea, a hiring of beasts there is none; And to him who is going out, And to him who is coming in, There is no peace because of the adversary, And I send all men--each against his neighbour.
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And now, not as in the former days am I to the remnant of this people, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts.
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Because of the sowing of peace, The vine doth give her fruit, And the earth doth give her increase, And the heavens do give their dew, And I have caused the remnant of this people To inherit all these.
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And it hath come to pass, As ye have been a reviling among nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, So I save you, and ye have been a blessing, Do not fear, let your hands be strong.
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For, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, As I did purpose to do evil to you, When your fathers made Me wroth, Said Jehovah of Hosts, and I did not repent,
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So I have turned back, I have purposed, in these days, To do good with Jerusalem, And with the house of Judah--fear not!

Requirements for a Holy People

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These are the things that ye do: Speak ye truth each with his neighbour, Truth and peaceful judgment judge in your gates,
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And each the evil of his neighbour ye do not devise in your heart, And a false oath ye do not love, For all these are things that I have hated, An affirmation of Jehovah.'
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And there is a word of Jehovah of Hosts unto me, saying:

Fasting Will Turn to Feasting

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`Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: The fast of the fourth, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth months , are to the house of Judah for joy and for rejoicing, and for pleasant appointed seasons, and the truth and the peace they have loved.

Nations Will Seek the Lord

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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Yet come do peoples, and inhabitants of many cities,
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Yea, gone have inhabitants of one To another, saying: We go diligently, To appease the face of Jehovah, To seek Jehovah of Hosts--I go, even I.
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Yea, come in have many peoples, and mighty nations, To seek Jehovah of Hosts in Jerusalem, And to appease the face of Jehovah.
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Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: In those days take hold do ten men of all languages of the nations, Yea, they have taken hold on the skirt of a man, a Jew, saying: We go with you, for we heard God is with you!
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