5. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.
6. Thus says the LORD of hosts; If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, would it also be marvelous in my eyes? says the LORD of hosts.
7. Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9. Thus says the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who were there 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 were no wages for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the enemy: for I set all men every one against his neighbor.
11. But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the LORD of hosts.
12. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its 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 you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14. For thus says the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the LORD of hosts, and I relented not:
15. So again have I thought in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear you not.