I pray that victory will come to Israel from Mount Zion! May God bring them back. Then the people of Jacob will rejoice, and the people of Israel will be glad.
With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love for Israel continues forever.” And then all the people shouted loudly, “Praise the Lord! The foundation of his Temple has been laid.”
The people offered many sacrifices that day and were happy because God had given them great joy. The women and children were happy. The sound of happiness in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
I pray that victory will come to Israel from Mount Zion! May the Lord bring them back. Then the people of Jacob will rejoice, and the people of Israel will be glad.
This is what the Lord said: “I will soon make the tents of Jacob’s people as they used to be, and I will have pity on Israel’s houses. The city will be rebuilt on its hill of ruins, and the king’s palace will stand in its proper place.
The Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: “I will again do good things for the people of Judah. At that time the people in the land of Judah and its towns will again use these words: ‘May the Lord bless you, home of what is good, holy mountain.’
I will be against you, and your enemies will defeat you. These people who hate you will rule over you, and you will run away even when no one is chasing you.
“ ‘Those of you who are left alive will lose their courage in the land of their enemies. They will be frightened by the sound of a leaf being blown by the wind. They will run as if someone were chasing them with a sword, and they will fall even when no one is chasing them.
I will bring my people Israel back from captivity; they will build the ruined cities again, and they will live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine from them; they will plant gardens and eat their fruit.