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.’ ”
對耶路撒冷的應許
1萬軍之耶和華的話傳給了我，說： 2「萬軍之耶和華說，『我篤愛錫安，我為錫安而大發烈怒。 3我要回到錫安，住在耶路撒冷。耶路撒冷必被稱為忠信之城，萬軍之耶和華的山必被稱為聖山。這是耶和華說的。 4必再次有年紀老邁、手拿拐杖的男女坐在耶路撒冷的街上。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 5街上必到處都是玩耍的男女孩童。』 6萬軍之耶和華說，『那時，這事在這些餘民看來是稀奇的，但在我看來毫不稀奇。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』 7萬軍之耶和華說，『看啊，我要從日出之地和日落之處救出我的子民， 8帶他們回到耶路撒冷居住。本著信實和公義，他們要做我的子民，我要做他們的上帝。』
9「萬軍之耶和華說，『在奠立萬軍之耶和華殿的根基那天，眾先知都在場。現今聽見這些先知之言的人啊，你們要剛強，以便建造聖殿！ 10那日之前，人和牲畜都得不到工錢。在敵人的威脅下，人們出入沒有平安。因為我使眾人彼此為敵。 11如今我不會像從前那樣對待這些餘民了。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 12因為他們必平安地撒種，葡萄樹必結果子，土地必出產五穀，天必降下甘霖，我必把這些福氣賜給這些餘民。 13猶大家和以色列家啊，從前你們在列國中是受咒詛的，現在我要拯救你們，使你們成為蒙福的人。你們不要害怕，要剛強。』
14「萬軍之耶和華說，『從前你們的祖先惹我發怒，我決定毫不留情地降禍給他們。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 15現在我決定賜福給耶路撒冷和猶大家。你們不要害怕。 16你們所當做的是：彼此說真話，在城門口秉公斷案，使人和睦。 17不可設陰謀彼此相害，不可貪愛假誓，因為這些都是我所憎惡的。這是耶和華說的。』」
18萬軍之耶和華的話傳給了我，說： 19「萬軍之耶和華說，『四月、五月、七月、十月的禁食必成為猶大家歡喜快樂的日子和幸福的節期。因此，你們要喜愛真理與和平。 20各族的人和各城的居民都必來這裡。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。 21這一城的居民必到那一城，說，我們快去向耶和華求恩，去尋求萬軍之耶和華吧！我自己也去。 22許多民族和強國必來耶路撒冷尋求萬軍之耶和華，向耶和華求恩。 23那時，十個來自列國、講不同語言的人必拉住一個猶大人的衣角，說，讓我們跟你們同去吧，因為我們聽說上帝與你們同在。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。』」
