1. The Lord Almighty gave this message to Zechariah:
2. “I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people, a love which has made me angry with her enemies.
3. I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. It will be known as the faithful city, and the hill of the Lord Almighty will be called the sacred hill.
4. Once again old men and women, so old that they use a stick when they walk, will be sitting in the city squares.
5. And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing.
6. “This may seem impossible to those of the nation who are now left, but it's not impossible for me.
7. I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken,
8. and will bring them back from east and west to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, ruling over them faithfully and justly.
9. “Have courage! You are now hearing the same words the prophets spoke at the time the foundation was being laid for rebuilding my Temple.