The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

Zechariah 8

1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
a 'I am 1 zealous for Zion with great 2 zeal;
With great 3 fervor I am zealous for her.' 3 "Thus says the LORD:
b 'I will return to Zion,
And c dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem d shall be called the City of Truth,
e The Mountain of the LORD of hosts,
f The Holy Mountain.' 4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
g 'Old men and old women shall again sit
In the streets of Jerusalem,
Each one with his staff in his hand
Because of 4 great age. 5 The streets of the city
Shall be h full of boys and girls
Playing in its streets.' 6 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
'If it is 5 marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days,
i Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?'
Says the LORD of hosts. 7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
'Behold, j I will save My people from the land of the 6 east
And from the land of the 7 west; 8 I will k bring them back,
And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
l They shall be My people
And I will be their God,
m In truth and righteousness.'

9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
n 'Let your hands be strong,
You who have been hearing in these days
These words by the mouth of o the prophets,
Who spoke in p the 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 q wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor. 11 r 'But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,' says the LORD of hosts. 12 'For s the 8 seed shall be prosperous,
The vine shall give its fruit,
t The ground shall give her increase,
And u the 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 v a curse among the nations,
O house of Judah and house of Israel,
So I will save you, and w you shall be a blessing.
Do not fear,
Let your hands be strong.'

14 "For thus says the LORD of hosts:
x 'Just as I determined to 9 punish you
When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,'
Says the LORD of hosts,
y '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 z do:
a Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; 17 b Let none of you think evil in 10 your heart against your neighbor;
And do not love a false oath.
For all these are things 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:
c 'The fast of the fourth month,
d The fast of the fifth,
e The fast of the seventh,
f And the fast of the tenth,
Shall be g joy and gladness and cheerful feasts
For the house of Judah.
h Therefore 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,
i "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD,
And seek the LORD of hosts.
I myself will go also." 22 Yes, j 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 k from every language of the nations shall l grasp the 11 sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard m that God is with you." ' "

  1. Cross References
    Joel 2:18
    Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
    Nahum 1:2
    God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
    Zechariah 1:14
    So the angel who spoke with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.
  2. Cross References
    Zechariah 1:16
    'Therefore thus says the LORD: "I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it," says the LORD of hosts, "And a surveyor's line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem."'
  3. Cross References
    Zechariah 2:10
    Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD.
    Zechariah 2:11
    Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:21
    How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 2:2
    Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
    Isaiah 2:3
    Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
  6. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:23
    Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: 'The LORD bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:31
    Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
    Isaiah 65:20
    No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 30:19
    Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
    Jeremiah 30:20
    Their children also shall be as before, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all who oppress them.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 18:14
    "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
    Luke 1:37
    "For with God nothing will be impossible."
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 107:3
    And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
    Isaiah 11:11
    It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.
    Ezekiel 37:21
    Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land.
  11. Cross References
    Zephaniah 3:20
    At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD.
    Zechariah 10:10
    I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them.
  12. Cross References
    Jeremiah 30:22
    'You shall be My people, And I will be your God.'"
    Jeremiah 31:1
    "At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people."
    Jeremiah 31:33
    But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
    Zechariah 13:9
    I will bring the one -third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'
  13. Cross References
    Jeremiah 4:2
    And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.
  14. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 22:13
    Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.
    Isaiah 35:4
    Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.
    Haggai 2:4
    Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the LORD of hosts.
  15. Cross References
    Ezra 5:1
    Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
    Ezra 5:2
    So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
    Ezra 6:14
    So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
    Zechariah 4:9
    The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
  16. Cross References
    Haggai 2:18
    Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid - consider it:
  17. Cross References
    Haggai 1:6
    "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."
    Haggai 1:9
    You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 103:9
    He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
    Isaiah 12:1
    And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
    Haggai 2:15 - 19
    And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD -
  19. Cross References
    Joel 2:22
    Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 67:6
    Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.
  21. Cross References
    Haggai 1:10
    Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.
  22. Cross References
    Jeremiah 42:18
    "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'As My anger and My fury have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so will My fury be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. And you shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach; and you shall see this place no more.'
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 12:2
    I will make you a great nation; I will bless yo...
    Ruth 4:11
    And all the people who were at the gate, and th...
    Ruth 4:12
    "May your house be like the house of Perez, who...
    Isaiah 19:24
    In that day Israel will be one of three with Eg...
    Isaiah 19:25
    Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Bl...
    Ezekiel 34:26
    I will make them and the places all around My h...
    Zephaniah 3:20
    At that time I will bring you back, Even at the...
  24. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:28
    And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.
  25. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:16
    But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
  26. Cross References
    Zechariah 7:9
    Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
    Zechariah 7:10
    Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 15:2
    He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart.
    Proverbs 12:17 - 19
    He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
    Zechariah 8:3
    "Thus says the LORD: 'I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.'
    Ephesians 4:25
    Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
  28. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:29
    Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake.
    Jeremiah 4:14
    O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
    Zechariah 7:10
    Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.
  29. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:6
    By the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
  30. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:12
    Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month ( which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
  31. Cross References
    2 Kings 25:25
    But it happened in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, as well as the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
    Jeremiah 41:1
    Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and of the officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
    Jeremiah 41:2
    Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
  32. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:4
    Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around.
  33. Cross References
    Esther 8:17
    And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
  34. Cross References
    Zechariah 8:16
    These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.
    Luke 1:74
    To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear.
    Luke 1:75
    In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
  35. Cross References
    Isaiah 2:2
    Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
    Isaiah 2:3
    Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
    Micah 4:1
    Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it.
    Micah 4:2
    Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
  36. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:3
    The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
    Isaiah 66:23
    And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.
    Zechariah 14:16 - 21
    And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
  37. Cross References
    Isaiah 3:6
    When a man takes hold of his brother In the house of his father, saying, "You have clothing; You be our ruler, And let these ruins be under your power.
  38. Cross References
    Isaiah 45:14
    Thus says the LORD: "The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; They shall walk behind you, They shall come over in chains; And they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, 'Surely God is in you, And there is no other; There is no other God.'
  39. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 14:25
    And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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