Zechariah 8:9-19

9The Lord Almighty says, ‘Be strong, you people who now hear these words from the mouths of the prophets. The prophets spoke the same words when you prepared the ground for the temple of the Lord Almighty. Now be strong and continue to build.

10Before that time, there was not enough money to pay for work that men or animals did. No man was safe from the enemy because I made all men angry with each other.’

11‘But now it is different. I will not be angry with the few people that have returned,’ says the Lord Almighty.

12‘The seeds and the plants will grow well. The trees will give fruit. There will be water from the skies. I will bless the few people that will return.

13In past years, people from other countries have said bad things against you, Judah and Israel. But now I will help you. You will bless many people. Do not be afraid. Be strong.’

14The Lord Almighty says this: ‘When your parents and their parents made me angry, I decided to punish them.’ ‘I have also punished you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

15‘Do not be afraid. I have now decided to do good things to Jerusalem and to the people in Judah again.

16These are the things that you should do. Speak true words to each other. Leaders, be fair to all people.

17Do not think to do bad things against other people. Do not use my name to promise things and then not do those things. All these things make me very angry.’

18Again Zechariah the prophet heard this message from the Lord Almighty.

19‘On special days in the year you eat no food. Those days are in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. But I want you to enjoy those days,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘I want the people in Judah to be happy. So speak true words and live quiet lives.’