Jerusalem Filled with Joy
Zechariah 8
The Lord declares his renewed jealousy for Jerusalem and promises to dwell in her midst, filling her streets with old men and old women and with children playing, and to bring his people back from east and west to be his own. The people are called to strengthen their hands, to speak truth and render peaceable judgment, and the fasts of mourning are turned to joy, as many peoples and nations come to seek the Lord in Jerusalem.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW a word of the Lord Almighty is come saying,
BrentonAnd the word of the Lord Almighty came, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου παντοκράτορος, λέγων,
KJVAgain the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
JPSAnd the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying:
2
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: I have had a great jealousy of Jerusalem and Sion, and with great wrath I have been jealous of her.
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Sion with great jealousy, and I have been jealous for her with great fury.
Greekτάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἐζήλωκα τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ τὴν Σιὼν ζῆλον μέγαν, καὶ θυμῷ μεγάλῳ ἐζήλωκα αὐτήν.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
JPS’Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great fury.
3
ThomsonBut thus saith the Lord, I will return to Sion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord Almighty, a holy mountain.
BrentonThus saith the Lord; I will return to Sion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a true city, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty a holy mountain.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐπιστρέψω ἐπὶ Σιὼν, καὶ κατασκηνώσω ἐν μέσῳ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ κληθήσεται ἡ Ἱερουσαλὴμ πόλις ἀληθινὴ, καὶ τὸ ὄρος Κυρίου παντοκράτορος, ὄρος ἅγιον.
KJVThus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
JPSThus saith the LORD: I return unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts The holy mountain.
4
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: Again old men and matrons shall sit in the streets of Jerusalem, every one with his staff in his hand, for many days;
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; There shall yet dwell old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem, every one holding his staff in his hand for age.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἔτι καθήσονται πρεσβύτεροι καὶ πρεσβύτεραι ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἕκαστος τὴν ῥάβδον αὐτοῦ ἔχων ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ πλήθους ἡμερῶν.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women sit in the broad places of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5
Thomsonand the streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in her streets.
BrentonAnd the broad places of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
GreekΚαὶ αἱ πλατεῖαι τῆς πόλεως πλησθήσονται παιδαρίων καὶ κορασίων παιζόντων ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
JPSAnd the broad places of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the broad places thereof.
6
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: If this shall appear impossible in the view of the remnant of this people in these days; shall it also be impossible in My sight, saith the Lord Almighty?
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; If it shall be impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible in my sight? saith the Lord Almighty.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, εἰ ἀδυνατήσει ἐνώπιον τῶν καταλοίπων τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, μὴ καὶ ἐνώπιόν μου ἀδυνατήσει; λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in Mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
7
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: Behold I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west.
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and the west country;
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ σώζω τὸν λαόν μου ἀπὸ γῆς ἀνατολῶν καὶ ἀπὸ γῆς δυσμῶν,
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country;
8
ThomsonAnd I will gather them and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness.
Brentonand I will bring them in, and cause them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be to me a people, and I will be to them a God, in truth and in righteousness.
Greekκαὶ εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς, καὶ κατασκηνώσω ἐν μέσῳ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἔσονται ἐμοὶ εἰς λαὸν, κᾀγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς Θεὸν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ.
KJVAnd I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
JPSAnd I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: Let your hands be strong, ye who in these days hear these words from the mouth of the prophets, from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord Almighty was laid and during the time the temple was being built.
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words out of the mouth of the prophets, from the day that the house of the Lord Almighty was founded, and from the time that the temple was built.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, κατισχυέτωσαν αἱ χεῖρες ὑμῶν τῶν ἀκουόντων ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἐκ στόματος τῶν προφητῶν, ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας τεθεμελίωται ὁ οἶκος Κυρίου παντοκράτορος, καὶ ὁ ναὸς ἀφʼ οὗ ᾠκοδόμηται.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
10
ThomsonFor before those days, the earnings of the men could be of no avail, and the proceeds of cattle could not be lasting; nor could there be any security from affliction to him who went out or to him who came in. For I set all the men each one against his neighbour.
BrentonFor before those days the wages of men could not be profitable, and there could be no hire of cattle, and there could be no peace by reason of the affliction to him that went out or to him that came in: for I would have let loose all men, every one against his neighbour.
GreekΔιότι πρὸ τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἔσται εἰς ὄνησιν, καὶ ὁ μισθὸς τῶν κτηνῶν οὐχ ὑπάρξει, καὶ τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ καὶ τῷ εἰσπορευομένῳ οὐκ ἔσται εἰρήνη ἀπὸ τῆς θλίψεως· καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
JPSFor before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the adversary; for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
11
ThomsonBut I will not deal now with the remnant of this people, as in the former days, saith the Lord Almighty:
BrentonBut now I will not do to the remnant of this people according to the former days, saith the Lord Almighty.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν, οὐ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τὰς ἔμπροσθεν ἐγὼ ποιῶ τοῖς καταλοίποις τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ,
KJVBut now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
JPSBut now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
12
Thomsonbut will shew peace. Their vine shall yield its fruit; and the earth shall yield its products; and the heaven shall shed its dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
BrentonBut I will shew peace: the vine shall yield her fruit, and the land shall yield her produce, and the heaven shall give its dew: and I will give as an inheritance all these things to the remnant of my people.
Greekἀλλʼ ἢ δείξω εἰρήνην· ἡ ἄμπελος δώσει τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς, καὶ ἡ γῆ δώσει τὰ γεννήματα αὐτῆς, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς δώσει τὴν δρόσον αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατακληρονομήσω τοῖς καταλοίποις τοῦ λαοῦ μου τούτου ταῦτα πάντα.
KJVFor the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
JPSFor as the seed of peace, the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
13
ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass, that as you, the house of Juda and the house of Israel, were for a curse among the nations; so I will save you, and you shall be for a blessing. Be of good courage and let your hands be strong,
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Juda, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: be of good courage, and strengthen your hands.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ἦτε ἐν κατάρᾳ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὁ οἶκος Ἰούδα καὶ οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ, οὕτως διασώσω ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσεσθε ἐν εὐλογίᾳ· θαρσεῖτε, καὶ κατισχύετε ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ὑμῶν.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing; fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14
Thomsonfor thus saith the Lord Almighty: In the same manner as I thought of afflicting you, when your fathers provoked Me, (saith the Lord Almighty) and I relented not;
BrentonFor thus saith the Lord Almighty; As I took counsel to afflict you when your fathers provoked me, saith the Lord Almighty, and I repented not:
GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ὃν τρόπον διενοήθην τοῦ κακῶσαι ὑμᾶς ἐν τῷ παροργίσαι με τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, καὶ οὐ μετενόησα·
KJVFor thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
JPSFor thus saith the LORD of host: As I purposed to do evil unto you, when your fathers provoked Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not;
15
Thomsonso I have determined and have My mind bent, in these days, on prospering Jerusalem and the house of Juda. Be of good courage.
Brentonso have I prepared and taken counsel in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Juda: be ye of good courage.
Greekοὕτως παρατέταγμαι, καὶ διανενόημαι ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις, τοῦ καλῶς ποιῆσαι τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα· θαρσεῖτε.
KJVSo again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
JPSso again do I purpose in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear ye not.
16
ThomsonThese are the things which ye shall do—Speak truth each one to his neighbour; administer the judgment of truth and peace in your gates,
BrentonThese are the things which ye shall do; speak truth every one with his neighbour; judge truth and peaceable judgment in your gates:
GreekΟὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οὓς ποιήσετε· λαλεῖτε ἀλήθειαν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, ἀλήθειαν καὶ κρίμα εἰρηνικὸν κρίνατε ἐν ταῖς πύλαις ὑμῶν,
KJVThese are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
JPSThese are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth with his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;
17
Thomsonand devise not evil in your hearts each one against his neighbour; and love not a false oath: for all these things I hate, saith the Lord Almighty.
Brentonand let none of you devise evil in his heart against his neighbour; and love not a false oath: for all these things I hate, saith the Lord Almighty.
Greekκαὶ ἔκαστος τὴν κακίαν τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ μὴ λογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, καὶ ὅρκον ψευδῆ μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε· διότι ταῦτα πάντα ἐμίσησα, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.
KJVAnd let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
JPSand let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.’
18
ThomsonThen a word of the Lord Almighty came to me, saying,
BrentonAnd the word of the Lord Almighty came to me, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου παντοκράτορος πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,
KJVAnd the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
JPSAnd the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying:
19
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, and the seventh fast, and the tenth fast shall be to the house of Juda for joy and gladness and for cheerful festivals, and ye shall rejoice. Therefore love truth and peace.
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty, The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, and the seventh fast, and the tenth fast, shall be to the house of Juda for joy and gladness, and for good feasts; and ye shall rejoice; and love ye the truth and peace.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, νηστεία ἡ τετρὰς, καὶ νηστεία ἡ πέμπτη, καὶ νηστεία ἡ ἑβδόμη, καὶ νηστεία ἡ δεκάτη ἔσονται τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰούδα εἰς χαρὰν καὶ εὐφροσύνην, καὶ εἰς ἑορτὰς ἀγαθάς· καὶ εὐφρανθήσεσθε, καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην ἀγαπήσατε.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
JPS’Thus saith the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful seasons; therefore love ye truth and peace.
20
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: There shall yet come many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities—
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; Yet shall many peoples come, and the inhabitants of many cities;
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἔτι ἥξουσι λαοὶ πολλοὶ, καὶ κατοικοῦντες πόλεις πολλὰς,
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;
21
Thomsoneven the inhabitants of five cities shall come together to one city, saying, Let us go to pray before the Lord and to seek the face of the Lord Almighty. I am going.
Brentonand the inhabitants of five cities shall come together to one city, saying, Let us go to make supplication to the Lord, and to seek the face of the Lord Almighty; I will go also.
Greekκαὶ συνελεύσονται κατοικοῦντες πέντε πόλεις εἰς μίαν πόλιν, λέγοντες, πορευθῶμεν δεηθῆναι τοῦ προσώπου Κυρίου, καὶ ἐκζητῆσαι τὸ πρόσωπον Κυρίου παντοκράτορος· πορεύσομαι κᾀγώ·
KJVAnd the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
JPSand the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying: Let us go speedily to entreat the favour of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will go also.
22
ThomsonAnd many peoples and many nations will come to seek the face of the Lord Almighty at Jerusalem, and to conciliate the favour of the Lord.
BrentonAnd many peoples and many nations shall come to seek earnestly the face of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem, and to obtain favour of the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἥξουσι λαοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ ἔθνη πολλὰ ἐκζητῆσαι τὸ πρόσωπον Κυρίου παντοκράτορος ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐξιλάσασθαι τὸ πρόσωπον Κυρίου.
KJVYea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
JPSYea, many peoples and mighty nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of the LORD.
23
ThomsonThus saith the Lord Almighty: If in those days ten men of all the tongues of the nations take hold, they must take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying, We will go with thee, for we have heard that God is with you.
BrentonThus saith the Lord Almighty; In those days my word shall be fulfilled if ten men of all the languages of the nations should take hold—even take hold of the hem of a Jew, saying, We will go with thee; for we have heard that God is with you.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ἐὰν ἐπιλάβωνται δέκα ἄνδρες ἐκ πασῶν τῶν γλῶσσων τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ἐπιλάβωνται τοῦ κρασπέδου ἀνδρὸς Ἰουδαίου, λέγοντες, πορευσόμεθα μετὰ σοῦ, διότι ἀκηκόαμεν ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς μεθʼ ὑμῶν ἐστι.
KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’