1And again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me, saying,
2“Thus says the LORD Almighty: ‘I am very jealous for Zion - jealous with great fury’.
3Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, and will dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth (a faithful city); and the mountain of the LORD Almighty, shall be called the Holy Mountain’.
4Thus says the LORD Almighty; ‘Once again, there shall yet be men and old women of ripe old age sitting in the streets of Jerusalem, and each with his cane in his hand because of their age.
5And the city streets shall be full of boys and girls playing there.’.
6Thus says the LORD Almighty: ‘It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous to Me?’, says the LORD Almighty.
7Thus says the LORD Almighty: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the countries of the east, and the countries of the west;
8And I will bring them , and they shall dwell in Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.’
9Thus says the LORD Almighty: ‘Let your hands be strong, so that the temple may be built. This is what the prophets said who were present when the foundation of the house of the LORD Almighty was laid,
10For before these days there were no wages for people, nor any hire for animals; nor was there any safety for him that came in or went out because of the affliction of the enemy; since I had set all men every one against his neighbor.
11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the past’, says the LORD Almighty.
12’For the seed shall grow well; the vine shall yield its fruit, and the ground shall produce its crops, and the heavens shall drop its dew; and I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people to possess.
13And just as you were a curse 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.’
14For thus says the LORD Almighty: ‘As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked Me to wrath’, says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I showed them no pity,
15So now I have determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; so don’t be afraid.
16These are the things that you are to do: Speak the truth to each other; and render true and sound judgment in your gates (courts);
17And let none of you plot evil against each other; and no longer swear falsely; for all these are things that I hate’, says the LORD.
18And the word of the LORD Almighty came again to me, saying,
19“Thus says the LORD Almighty: ’The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and the tenth month, shall be joyful and glad occasions for Judah; therefore love truth and peace.”
20Thus says the LORD Almighty: “It shall come to pass, that many people and the inhabitants of many cities shall yet come;
21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to pray to and entreat the LORD, and to seek the LORD Almighty; I, myself, am going”.
22Yea, many people and powerful nations shall come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty, and to pray before the LORD.”
23Thus says the LORD Almighty: “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men of all languages and nations shall take hold of one Jew, and take hold of his robe, and say, “We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.”” Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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