11. the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the lord. They will sing,‘Give thanks to the lord of Heaven’s Armies,for the lord is good.His faithful love endures forever!’For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the lord.
12. “This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says: This land—though it is now desolate and has no people and animals—will once more have pastures where shepherds can lead their flocks.
13. Once again shepherds will count their flocks in the towns of the hill country, the foothills of Judah, the Negev, the land of Benjamin, the vicinity of Jerusalem, and all the towns of Judah. I, the lord, have spoken!
14. “The day will come, says the lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.
15. “In those days and at that timeI will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
16. In that day Judah will be saved,and Jerusalem will live in safety.And this will be its name:‘The lord Is Our Righteousness.’
17. For this is what the lord says: David will have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel forever.