Zacarias 8

Jerusalem, Holy City of the Future

1 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

*Joel 2:18; Nah. 1:2; Zech. 1:14‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal;

With great fervor I am zealous for her.’

3 "Thus says the Lord:

*Zech. 1:16‘I will return to Zion,

And *Zech. 2:10, 11dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem *Is. 1:21shall be called the City of Truth,

*(Is. 2:2, 3)The Mountain of the Lord of hosts,

*Jer. 31:23The Holy Mountain.’

4 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

*1 Sam. 2:31; Is. 65:20‘Old men and old women shall again sit

In the streets of Jerusalem,

Each one with his staff in his hand

Because of great age.

5 The streets of the city

Shall be *Jer. 30:19, 20full of boys and girls

Playing in its streets.’

6 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days,

*(Gen. 18:14; Luke 1:37)Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’

Says the Lord of hosts.

7 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, *Ps. 107:3; Is. 11:11; Ezek. 37:21I will save My people from the land of the east

And from the land of the west;

8 I will *Zeph. 3:20; Zech. 10:10bring them back,

And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.

*(Jer. 30:22; 31:1, 33; Zech. 13:9)They shall be My people

And I will be their God,

*Jer. 4:2In truth and righteousness.’

9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

*1 Chr. 22:13; Is. 35:4; Hag. 2:4‘Let your hands be strong,

You who have been hearing in these days

These words by the mouth of *Ezra 5:1, 2; 6:14; Zech. 4:9the prophets,

Who spoke in *Hag. 2:18the day the foundation was laid

For the house of the Lord of hosts,

That the temple might be built.

10 For before these days

There were no *Hag. 1:6, 9wages for man nor any hire for beast;

Therewas no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;

For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.

11 *(Ps. 103:9); Is. 12:1; Hag. 2:15–19But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

12 ‘For*Joel 2:22 the seed shallbe prosperous,

The vine shall give its fruit,

*Ps. 67:6The ground shall give her increase,

And *Hag. 1:10the heavens shall give their dew—

I will cause the remnant of this people

To possess all these.

13 And it shall come to pass

That just as you were *Jer. 42:18a curse among the nations,

O house of Judah and house of Israel,

So I will save you, and *Gen. 12:2; Ruth 4:11, 12; Is. 19:24, 25; Ezek. 34:26; (Zeph. 3:20)you shall be a blessing.

Do not fear,

Let your hands be strong.’

14 "For thus says the Lord of hosts:

*Jer. 31:28‘Just as I determined to punish you

When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’

Says the Lord of hosts,

*(2 Chr. 36:16)‘And I would not relent,

15 So again in these days

I am determined to do good

To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

Do not fear.

16 These are the things you shall *Zech. 7:9, 10do:

*Ps. 15:2; (Prov. 12:17–19); Zech. 8:3; (Eph. 4:25)Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;

Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;

17 *Prov. 3:29; Jer. 4:14; Zech. 7:10Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor;

And do not love a false oath.

For all these arethings that I hate,’

Says the Lord."

18 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

*Jer. 52:6‘The fast of the fourth month,

*Jer. 52:12The fast of the fifth,

*2 Kin. 25:25; Jer. 41:1, 2The fast of the seventh,

*Jer. 52:4And the fast of the tenth,

Shall be *Esth. 8:17joy and gladness and cheerful feasts

For the house of Judah.

*Zech. 8:16; Luke 1:74, 75Therefore love truth and peace.’

20 "Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Peoples shall yet come,

Inhabitants of many cities;

21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,

*(Is. 2:2, 3; Mic. 4:1, 2)"Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord,

And seek the Lord of hosts.

I myself will go also."

22 Yes, *Is. 60:3; 66:23; (Zech. 14:16–21)many peoples and strong nations

Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem,

And to pray before the Lord.’

23 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men *Is. 3:6from every language of the nations shall *(Is. 45:14)grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard *1 Cor. 14:25that God is with you." ’ "