Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Let your [a]hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the Prophets, which were in the day, that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the Temple might be built.

10 For before these days there was no hire for [b]man, nor any hire for beast, neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men, everyone against his neighbor.

11 But now, I will not entreat the residue of this people as aforetime, saith the Lord of hosts.

12 For the seed shall be prosperous: the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, so will I deliver you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, As I thought to punish[c]you, when your fathers provoked me unto wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and repented not,

15 So again have I determined in these days [d]to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

16 These are the things that ye shall do, Speak ye every man the truth unto his neighbor: execute judgment truly, and uprightly in your gates,

17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are the things that I hate, saith the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:9 Let neither respect of your private commodities neither counsel of others, nor fear of enemies discourage you in the going forward with the building of the Temple, but be constant and obey the Prophets, which encourage you thereunto.
  2. Zechariah 8:10 For God cursed your work, so that neither man nor beast had profit of their labors.
  3. Zechariah 8:14 Read Ezek. 18:20.
  4. Zechariah 8:15 Which declareth that man cannot turn to God till he changes man’s heart by his spirit, and so begin to do well, which is to pardon his sins and to give him his graces.

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