Are not [these] the wordswhichthe LORDproclaimedby the formerprophets,when Jerusalemwas inhabitedand prosperousalong with its citiesaroundit, and the Negevand the foothillswere inhabited?'"
"Inclineyour earand cometo Me. Listen,that you may live;And I will makean everlastingcovenantwith you, [According to] the faithfulmerciesshown to David.
The citiesof the Negevhave been lockedup, And thereis nooneto open[them]; AllJudahhas been carriedinto exile,Whollycarriedinto exile.
"They will comein from the citiesof Judahand from the environsof Jerusalem,from the landof Benjamin,from the lowland,from the hillcountryand from the Negev,bringingburntofferings,sacrifices,grain offeringsand incense,and bringingsacrificesof thanksgivingto the houseof the LORD.
"I spoketo you in your prosperity;But you said,'I will not listen!'Thishas been your practicefrom your youth,That you have not obeyedMy voice.
Men will buyfieldsfor money,signand sealdeeds,and callin witnessesin the landof Benjamin,in the environsof Jerusalem,in the citiesof Judah,in the citiesof the hillcountry,in the citiesof the lowlandand in the citiesof the Negev;for I will restoretheir fortunes,'declaresthe LORD."
In the citiesof the hillcountry,in the citiesof the lowland,in the citiesof the Negev,in the landof Benjamin,in the environsof Jerusalemand in the citiesof Judah,the flockswill againpassunderthe handsof the one who numbersthem,' saysthe LORD.
Yet I sentyou allMy servantsthe prophets,againand again,saying,"Oh,do not dothisabominablethingwhichI hate."
"But thisis whatI commandedthem, saying,ObeyMy voice,and I will be your God,and you will be My people;and you will walkin allthe waywhichI commandyou, that it may be wellwith you.'
"For ifyou trulyamendyour waysand your deeds,ifyou trulypracticejusticebetweena manand his neighbor,
"They madetheir hearts[like] flintsothat they could not hearthe lawand the wordswhichthe LORDof hostshad sentby His Spiritthroughthe formerprophets;therefore greatwrathcamefrom the LORDof hosts.
Whenyou eatand drink,do you not eatfor yourselves and do you not drinkfor yourselves?
Then the wordof the LORDcameto Zechariahsaying,
and the Negevand the plainin the valleyof Jericho,the cityof palmtrees,as faras Zoar.
