3. The Lord proclaims: I have returned to Zion; I will settle in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the city of truth; the mountain of the Lord of heavenly forces will be the holy mountain.
4. The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:Old men and old women will again dwell in the plazas of Jerusalem. Each of them will have a staff in their hand because of their great age.
5. The city will be full of boys and girls playing in its plazas.
6. The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:Even though it may seem to be a miracle for the few remaining among this people in these days, should it seem to be a miracle for me? says the Lord of heavenly forces.
7. The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:I’m about to deliver my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.
8. I’ll bring them back so they will dwell in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God—in truth and in righteousness.
9. The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:Be strong, you who are now hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets spoken on the day when the foundations for the house of the Lord of heavenly forces were laid.
10. Before this time, there were no wages for people or animals; there was no relief from distress about going out or coming in, because I set everyone against their own neighbor.
11. But now, unlike those earlier days, I’ll be with the few remaining among this people, says the Lord of heavenly forces.
12. The seed is healthy:the vine will give its fruit.The land will give its produce;the heavens will give its dew.I will give the remnant of this people all these things.