Thus I will strengthen them by my power, ¹  and they will walk about ²  in my name,” says the Lord.

“Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!” ¹ 

And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. ¹ 

all the clans that remain, each separately with their wives.”

Be silent in the Lord’s presence, all people everywhere, ¹  for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place. ² 

He replied, “To build a temple ¹  for her in the land of Babylonia. ²  When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence.”

Then someone will ask him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ ¹  and he will answer, ‘Some that I received in the house of my friends.’

“I am about to punish them ¹  in such a way,” he says, “that they will be looted by their own slaves.” Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me.

He then said, “This woman represents wickedness,” and he pushed her down into the basket and placed the lead cover on top.

Then he cried out to me, “Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me ¹  peace about the northland.” ² 

Then those who are far away ¹  will come and build the temple of the Lord so that you may know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the Lord your God.”’”

The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. ¹  Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the Lord who rules over all,” “holy mountain.”’

And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, ¹  in truth and righteousness.’

And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!’

Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord who rules over all and to ask his favor.

Then I will surround my temple ¹  to protect it like a guard ²  from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.

Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.

Then I cut the second staff “Binders” in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”

But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers? ¹  Then they paid attention ²  and confessed, ‘The Lord who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.’”