9. “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Let your hands be strong—you who hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there the day the foundation of the House of Adonai-Tzva’ot was laid—so that the Temple may be rebuilt.
10. Before those days there were no wages for man or animal, nor was there any shalom from adversity for those who came or went because I set every one against his neighbor.
11. But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot.
12. “For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
13. It will happen that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Fear not! Let your hands be strong!’
14. For thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Just as I determined to harm you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘and I did not relent,
15. so I have again determined in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not!
16. These are the things that you are to do: speak the truth one to another; administer the judgment of truth and shalom in your gates;
17. do not let any of you devise evil in your hearts against your neighbor; and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things,”—it is a declaration of Adonai.