7. I will make Judah and Israel prosperous, and I will rebuild them as they were before.
8. I will purify them from the sins that they have committed against me, and I will forgive their sins and their rebellion.
9. Jerusalem will be a source of joy, honour, and pride to me; and every nation in the world will fear and tremble when they hear about the good things that I do for the people of Jerusalem and about the prosperity that I bring to the city.”
10. The Lord said, “People are saying that this place is like a desert, that it has no people or animals living in it. And they are right; the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are empty; no people or animals live there. But in these places you will hear again
11. the shouts of gladness and joy and the happy sounds of wedding feasts. You will hear people sing as they bring thankofferings to my Temple; they will say,‘Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,because he is goodand his love is eternal.’I will make this land as prosperous as it was before. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
12. The Lord Almighty said, “In this land that is like a desert and where no people or animals live, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can take their sheep.
13. In the towns of the hill country, in the foothills, and in southern Judah, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages round Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
14. The Lord said, “The time is coming when I will fulfil the promise that I made to the people of Israel and Judah.