Study Desk

I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands."

But now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord . ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord , ‘and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty.

"‘On that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the Lord , ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the Lord Almighty."

Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

"Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north," declares the Lord , "for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven," declares the Lord .

For this is what the Lord Almighty says: "After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—

"Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the Lord .

And he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.

He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place."

by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, "Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?"

"Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?

And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.' This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.

Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."

A prophecy: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak and will come to rest on Damascus— for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord —

Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted.

But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.