13. People of Judah and Israel, you have been a curse to the nations, but I will save you and make you a blessing to them. So don't be afraid or lose courage.
14. When your ancestors made me angry, I decided to punish you with disasters, and I didn't hold back.
15. Now you no longer need to be afraid. I have decided to treat Jerusalem and Judah with kindness.
16. But you must be truthful with each other, and in court you must give fair decisions that lead to peace.
17. Don't ever plan evil things against others or tell lies under oath. I, the Lord, hate such things.
18. The Lord All-Powerful told me to say:
19. People of Judah, I, the Lord, demand that whenever you go without food as a way of worshipping me, it should become a time of celebration. No matter if it's the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, or the tenth month, you should have a joyful festival. So love truth and live at peace.
20. I tell you that people will come here from cities everywhere.
21. Those of one town will go to another and say, “We're going to ask the Lord All-Powerful to treat us with kindness. Come and join us.”
22. Many people from strong nations will come to Jerusalem to worship me and to ask me to treat them with kindness.
23. When this happens, ten people from nations with different languages will grab a Jew by his clothes and say, “Let us go with you. We've heard that God is on your side.” I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!