1. Then the word of the Lord who rules over all came to me as follows:
2. “The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.’
3. The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the Lord who rules over all,” “holy mountain.”’
4. Moreover, the Lord who rules over all says, ‘Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age.
5. And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.
6. And,’ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?’ asks the Lord who rules over all.
7. “The Lord who rules over all asserts, ‘I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west.
8. And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’