3 ⁱThus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will ^jdwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, ^kshould it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands ^lbe strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the ^mfoundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was ⁿno wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. ^oThe vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their ^pdew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a ^qbyword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ^ryou shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I ^spurposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: ^tSpeak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are ^utrue and make for peace; 17 do not ^vdevise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no ^wfalse oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The ^xfast of the ^yfourth month and the fast of the ^zfifth and the fast of the ^aseventh and the fast of the ^btenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.