Zechariah 8

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The word of Yahweh Sabaoth came as fol ows:	1 This word of the LORD of hosts came: Thus says the LORD of hosts:
2 Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I have been burning with jealousy for Zion, with furious jealousy for hersake.	2 I am intensely jealous for Zion, stirred to jealous wrath for her.
3 Yahweh says this: I am coming back to Zion and shal live in the heart of Jerusalem. Jerusalem wil becal ed Faithful City and the mountain of Yahweh Sabaoth, the Holy Mountain.	3 Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and I will dwell within Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.
4 Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Aged men and women once again wil sit in the squares of Jerusalem, eachwith a stick to lean on because of their great age.	4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women, each with staff in hand because of old age, shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
5 And the squares of the city wil be full of boys and girls playing there.	5 The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in her streets.
6 Yahweh Sabaoth says this: If this seems a miracle to the remnant of this people (in those days), wil itseem one to me? declares Yahweh.	6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even if this should seem impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people, shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also, says the LORD of hosts?
7 Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Look, I shal rescue my people from the countries of the east and from thecountries of the west.	7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun, and from the land of the setting sun.
8 I shal bring them back to live in the heart of Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I shal be theirGod, faithful and just.	8 I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem. They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.
9 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Take heart, you who today hear these promises uttered by the prophetssince the day when the foundations of the Temple of Yahweh Sabaoth were laid, that the sanctuary wouldindeed be rebuilt.	9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words spoken by the prophets on the day when the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid for the building of the temple.
10 For up to now, men were not paid their wages and nothing was paid for the animals either; and it hasnot been safe for anyone to come and go, because of the enemy, since I had set each one against everyoneelse.	10 For before those days there were no wages for men, or hire for beasts; those who came and went had no security from the enemy, for I set every man against his neighbor.
11 But from now on, I shal not treat the remnant of this people as I have treated them in time past --declares Yahweh Sabaoth.	11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in former days, says the LORD of hosts,
12 Now they wil sow in peace; the vine will give its fruit, the soil wil give its produce and heaven will giveits dew. I shal bestow al these on the remnant of this people.	12 for it is the seedtime of peace: the vine shall yield its fruit, the land shall bear its crops, and the heavens shall give their dew; all these things I will have the remnant of the people possess.
13 Just as once you were a curse among the nations, House of Judah and House of Israel, so now I shalsave you, and you wil be a blessing. Do not be afraid. Take heart!"	13 Just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you that you may be a blessing; do not fear, but let your hands be strong.
14 'For Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "Just as I resolved to ill-treat you when your ancestors provoked me toanger and did not relent -- says Yahweh Sabaoth-	14 Thus says the LORD of hosts: As I determined to harm you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the LORD of hosts, and I did not relent,
15 so now I have changed my mind and intend to treat Jerusalem and the House of Judah well. Do not beafraid!	15 so again in these days I have determined to favor Jerusalem and the house of Judah; do not fear!
16 "These are the things that you must do. Speak the truth to one another; at your gates, administer fairjudgement conducive to peace;	16 These then are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another; let there be honesty and peace in the judgments at your gates,
17 do not secretly plot evil against one another; do not love perjury; since I hate al this -- Yahwehdeclares." '	17 and let none of you plot evil against another in his heart, nor love a false oath. For all these things I hate, says the LORD.
18 The word of Yahweh Sabaoth was addressed to me as fol ows:	18 This word of the LORD of hosts came to me:
19 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventhand the fast of the tenth are to become glad, joyful, happy festivals for the House of Judah. So love truth andpeace!" '	19 Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast days of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months shall become occasions of joy and gladness, cheerful festivals for the house of Judah; only love faithfulness and peace.
20 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "In the future, peoples and citizens of many cities wil come;	20 Thus says the LORD of hosts: There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities;
21 and citizens of one city wil go to the next and say: We must certainly go to entreat Yahweh's favourand seek out Yahweh Sabaoth; I am going myself.	21 and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD"; and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
22 Yes, many peoples and great nations will seek out Yahweh Sabaoth in Jerusalem and entreatYahweh's favour."	22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD.
23 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, "In those days, ten men from nations of every language will take a Jew bythe sleeve and say: We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you." '	23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."