Study Desk

But now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, head religious leader. And be strong, all you people of the land,' says the Lord. ‘Do the work, for I am with you,' says the Lord of All.

For the Lord of All says, ‘Once again, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

On that day,' says the Lord of All, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,' says the Lord. ‘And I will make you like a ring for marking My name. For I have chosen you,' says the Lord of All."

Do not be like your fathers. The men who spoke for Me in the past told them, ‘The Lord of All says, "Return from your sinful ways and from your sinful works."' But they did not listen to Me," says the Lord.

"Where are your fathers now? And the men who spoke for Me, do they live forever?

I gave My Words and My Laws to your fathers through My servants who spoke for Me. But they would not listen and so they were punished. Then they were sorry for their sins and said, ‘The Lord of All has punished us for our ways and our works, as He said He would.'"'"

Then the angel of the Lord said, "O Lord of All, how long will You have no loving-pity for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You have been angry with them for seventy years now."

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "Make this known: ‘The Lord of All says, "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.

For I will be a wall of fire around her,' says the Lord. ‘And I will be the shining-greatness of her.'"

"Come, come, run from the land of the north!" says the Lord. "For I have sent you to the four winds of the heavens," says the Lord.

For the Lord of All says, "The Lord of shining-greatness has sent Me against the nations which have robbed you in battle. For whoever touches you, touches what is of great worth to Him.

Sing for joy and be glad, O people of Zion. For I am coming and I will live among you," says the Lord.

All of you be quiet before the Lord. For He is coming from His holy place."

He said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar. When it is ready, it will be put in its place."

Then tell him, ‘The Lord of All says, "See, the man whose name is the Branch, for He will branch out from where He is. And He will build the house of the Lord.

Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to ask for the Lord's favor.

They asked the religious leaders of the house of the Lord of All, and the men who speak for God, "Should I cry and go without food in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?"

When you eat and drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?

Are not these the words the Lord made known through the men who spoke for Him in the past? They spoke these words when Jerusalem was full of people and riches, together with the cities around it, and when the Negev and the lower hills were full of people.'"

Do not make it hard for the woman whose husband has died, or the child who has no parents, or the stranger, or the poor. Do not make sinful plans in your hearts against one another.'