The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem
1The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.
2This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”
3This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”
4This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
6This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty.
7This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
9This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the Lord Almighty.
12“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse. among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”
14This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15“so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.
18The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.
19This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”
20This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”
23This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”
对耶路撒冷的应许
1万军之耶和华的话传给了我，说： 2“万军之耶和华说，‘我对锡安充满了火热的爱，我为锡安而大发烈怒。 3我要回到锡安，住在耶路撒冷。耶路撒冷必被称为忠信之城，我的山必被称为圣山。这是万军之耶和华说的。 4必再次有年纪老迈、手拿拐杖的男女坐在耶路撒冷的街上。这是万军之耶和华说的。 5街上必到处都是玩耍的男女孩童。’ 6万军之耶和华说，‘那时，这事在这些余民看来是不可能的，但在我看来毫不稀奇。这是万军之耶和华说的。’ 7万军之耶和华说，‘看啊，我要从东方和西方救出我的子民， 8带他们回到耶路撒冷居住。他们要做我的子民，我要做他们信实和公义的上帝。’
9“万军之耶和华说，‘在奠立万军之耶和华殿的根基那天，众先知都在场。现今听见这些先知之言的人啊，你们要刚强，以便可以建造圣殿！ 10那日之前，人和牲畜都得不到工钱。在敌人的威胁下，人们出入没有平安。因为我使众人彼此为敌。 11如今我不会像从前那样对待这些余民了。这是万军之耶和华说的。 12因为他们必平安地撒种，葡萄树必结果子，土地必出产五谷，天必降下甘霖，我要把这些福气赐给这些余民。 13犹大家和以色列家啊，从前你们在列国中是受咒诅的，现在我要拯救你们，使你们成为蒙福的人。你们不要惧怕，要刚强。’
14“万军之耶和华说，‘从前你们的祖先惹我发怒，我决定毫不留情地降祸给他们。这是万军之耶和华说的。 15现在我决定赐福给耶路撒冷和犹大家。你们不要惧怕。 16你们所当做的是彼此说真话，在城门口秉公断案，使人和睦。 17不可设阴谋彼此相害，不可以起假誓为乐，因为这些都是我所憎恶的。这是耶和华说的。’”
18万军之耶和华的话传给了我，说： 19“万军之耶和华说，‘四月、五月、七月、十月的禁食必成为犹大家欢喜快乐的日子和幸福的节期。因此，你们要喜爱真理与和平。 20各族的人和各城的居民都必来这里。这是万军之耶和华说的。 21这一城的居民必到那一城，说，我们快去向耶和华求恩，去寻求万军之耶和华吧！我自己也去。 22各民族和各强国必来耶路撒冷寻求万军之耶和华，向耶和华求恩。 23那时，十个来自列国、讲不同语言的人必拉住一个犹大人的衣角，说，让我们跟你们同去吧，因为我们听说上帝与你们同在。这是万军之耶和华说的。’”
