Zechariah 8 - EasyEnglish Bible 2024（EASY）

Chapter 8God promises to bless Jerusalem

1The Lord Almighty gave this message to me:

2‘I love Zion very much because it is my special place. I am very angry with anyone who hurts my people who live there.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.

3The Lord says, ‘I will return to Zion and I will live in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called “City of Faithful People”. The mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called “God's Holy Mountain”.’

4The Lord Almighty also says, ‘Old men and old women will walk in Jerusalem's streets with their walking sticks. They will sit and talk together in the public places.

5Many boys and girls will play in the city's streets.’

6The Lord Almighty says, ‘For the few people who remain in those days, this may seem an impossible thing to happen. But it is not a difficult thing for me to do.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.

7The Lord Almighty says, ‘I will rescue my people from the countries in the east and in the west.

8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will be their God. I will rule them in a way that is faithful and right.’

9The Lord Almighty also says, ‘You have heard the message that the prophets spoke when people were building the temple's foundation. So now be strong and brave! Finish building the house of the Lord Almighty.

10Before that time, there was not enough money to pay for work that men or animals did. People could not travel safely anywhere because of their enemies. I caused people to hate each other.

11But I will no longer do that to my people who remain. I will act differently from how I did in past times.

12My people will be able to plant seeds safely in their fields. Their vines will provide plenty of grapes. Crops will grow well in their fields. There will be plenty of rain. My people who remain will enjoy all these things for themselves.

13People of Judah and Israel, in past times other nations used your names as a curse. So now I will save you. You will provide a blessing to other nations instead of a curse. Do not be afraid! Be brave and strong.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.

14The Lord Almighty says, ‘When your ancestors made me angry, I decided to punish you. I would not change my mind about that.

15But now I have decided to be kind to the people of Jerusalem and Judah. So do not be afraid!

16These are the things that you must do. Each of you must speak true words to each other. In your courts, do what is right and fair.

17Do not think of evil things that you can do to other people. Do not make false promises. All these things make me very angry.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.

18The Lord Almighty gave me another message.

19He said, ‘There are special times each year when you fast. Those times are in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. Those times will now become happy feasts that the people of Judah should enjoy. So you must love truth and peace.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.

20The Lord Almighty also says, ‘One day, foreign people who live in many different cities will come to Jerusalem.

21The people of one city will go and speak to the people of another city. They will say, “Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. We will go and worship the Lord Almighty. I am going there, so come with me.”

22People from many places and from powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord Almighty. They will ask him to bless them.’

23The Lord Almighty says, ‘At that time, people who speak many different languages will come from all other nations. Ten of them will go to one Jew and they will take hold of his coat. They will say to him, “People have told us that God is with you. So please let us go with you to worship him.” ’