< Zechariah 8 >

1 Then the Lord Almighty sent another message to me.
Et factum est verbum Domini exercituum, dicens:
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealously protective of the people of Zion; I am extremely passionate about them.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Zelatus sum Sion zelo magno, et indignatione magna zelatus sum eam.
3 This is what the Lord says. I have returned to Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the “Faithful City,” and the mountain of the Lord Almighty the “Holy Mountain.”
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Reversus sum ad Sion, et habitabo in medio Jerusalem: et vocabitur Jerusalem civitas veritatis, et mons Domini exercituum mons sanctificatus.
4 This is what the Lord Almighty says. Old people will be able to sit again in the streets of Jerusalem, each with their walking sticks they need because of their age.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Adhuc habitabunt senes et anus in plateis Jerusalem, et viri baculus in manu ejus præ multitudine dierum.
5 The streets will be full of boys and girls playing happily.
Et plateæ civitatis complebuntur infantibus et puellis, ludentibus in plateis ejus.
6 This is what the Lord Almighty says. It may seem too good to be true now, to you who remain of my people in these days. But is it impossible for me to do? asks the Lord Almighty.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Si videbitur difficile in oculis reliquiarum populi hujus in diebus illis, numquid in oculis meis difficile erit? dicit Dominus exercituum.
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says. I will save my people from the countries to the east and to the west.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Ecce ego salvabo populum meum de terra orientis et de terra occasus solis.
8 I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I will be their God, trustworthy and true.
Et adducam eos, et habitabunt in medio Jerusalem: et erunt mihi in populum, et ego ero eis in Deum, in veritate et in justitia.
9 This is what the Lord Almighty says. Be strong, so that the Temple may be completed. Everyone who is here today is listening to the same words from the prophets who were present on the day when the foundation of the Lord Almighty's Temple was laid.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Confortentur manus vestræ, qui auditis in his diebus sermones istos per os prophetarum, in die qua fundata est domus Domini exercituum, ut templum ædificaretur.
10 Before that time there wasn't enough for people or for animals. No one could live normally because they were not safe from their enemies, and I set everyone against each other.
Siquidem ante dies illos merces hominum non erat, nec merces jumentorum erat: neque introëunti, neque exeunti erat pax præ tribulatione: et dimisi omnes homines, unumquemque contra proximum suum.
11 But now I won't treat those who remain of my people like I treated them before, declares the Lord Almighty.
Nunc autem non juxta dies priores ego faciam reliquiis populi hujus, dicit Dominus exercituum,
12 They will sow in peace; the vine will produce grapes; the soil will grow crops and the heavens will water them. I will make sure this happens to all those who remain of this people.
sed semen pacis erit: vinea dabit fructum suum, et terra dabit germen suum, et cæli dabunt rorem suum: et possidere faciam reliquias populi hujus universa hæc.
13 People of Judah and Israel: just as you were considered a curse among the nations, so I will save you and you will become a blessing. Don't be afraid! Be strong!
Et erit: sicut eratis maledictio in gentibus, domus Juda et domus Israël, sic salvabo vos, et eritis benedictio. Nolite timere; confortentur manus vestræ.
14 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: I decided to bring disaster on you when your forefathers angered me and I did not change my mind.
Quia hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Sicut cogitavi ut affligerem vos, cum ad iracundiam provocassent patres vestri me, dicit Dominus,
15 But now I have made up my mind to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don't be afraid!
et non sum misertus: sic conversus cogitavi, in diebus istis, ut benefaciam domui Juda et Jerusalem. Nolite timere.
16 This what you have to do: Tell each other the truth. In your courts judge honestly and truthfully, which makes for peace.
Hæc sunt ergo verba quæ facietis: loquimini veritatem unusquisque cum proximo suo: veritatem et judicium pacis judicate in portis vestris.
17 Don't think up evil schemes against one another. Stop your love of lies. I hate all this, declares the Lord.
Et unusquisque malum contra amicum suum ne cogitetis in cordibus vestris, et juramentum mendax ne diligatis: omnia enim hæc sunt quæ odi, dicit Dominus.
18 The Lord Almighty gave me another message.
Et factum est verbum Domini exercituum ad me, dicens:
19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: The fasts you observe in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth month will become times of joy and happiness for the people of Judah—they will be festivals of celebration. But love truth and peace.
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Jejunium quarti, et jejunium quinti, et jejunium septimi, et jejunium decimi erit domui Juda in gaudium et lætitiam et in solemnitates præclaras. Veritatem tantum et pacem diligite.
20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: People from many nations and cities will yet come to Jerusalem,
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum, usquequo veniant populi et habitent in civitatibus multis:
21 going from one city to another saying, “Let us be sure to go and seek the Lord and ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty. I myself am going!”
et vadant habitatores, unus ad alterum, dicentes: Eamus, et deprecemur faciem Domini, et quæramus Dominum exercituum: vadam etiam ego.
22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty and seek the Lord.
Et venient populi multi, et gentes robustæ, ad quærendum Dominum exercituum in Jerusalem, et deprecandam faciem Domini.
23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: At that time ten men from different nations and languages will grab hold of the hem of a Jewish man's robe and plead, “Please take us with you for we have heard that God is with you.”
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: In diebus illis, in quibus apprehendent decem homines ex omnibus linguis gentium, et apprehendent fimbriam viri Judæi, dicentes: Ibimus vobiscum: audivimus enim quoniam Deus vobiscum est.

< Zechariah 8 >