But did not my words and statutes, which I commanded by my servants the Prophets, touch your forefathers? Upon this, they gave answer and said, 'Like as the LORD of Hosts devised to do unto us, according to our ways and imaginations, even so hath he dealt with us.''"

and said unto him, 'Run, speak to this young man, and say: Jerusalem shall be inhabited without any wall, for the very multitude of people and cattle, that shall be therein:

And the LORD said unto Satan, 'The LORD reprove thee, thou Satan; yea, the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem, reprove thee. Is not this a brand taken out of the fire?'

He answered, and said unto me, 'This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying: Neither through a host of men, nor through strength, but through my spirit, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.

'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands also shall finish it: that ye may know, how that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me unto you.

Then said he unto me, 'This is the curse, that goeth forth over the whole earth: for all thieves shall be judged after this book, and all swearers shall be judged according to the same.

Then the angel that talked with me, went forth, and said unto me, 'Lift up thine eyes and see what this is that goeth forth.'

And I said, 'What is it?' He answered, 'This is a measure going out.' He said moreover, 'Even thus are they that dwell upon the whole earth to look upon.'

And he said, 'This is ungodliness.' So he cast her into the midst of the measure, and threw the lump of lead up in to a hole.

that ye may know, how that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God.''

"Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, and say, 'When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, now this seventy years, did ye fast unto me?

Thus saith the LORD Sabaoth: though it seem hard in the eyes of the remnant of this people, shall it seem hard in mine eyes saith the LORD Sabaoth.

Nevertheless I will now entreat the residue of this people no more as afore time, sayeth the LORD of Hosts,

but they shall be a seed of peace. The vineyard shall give her fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I shall cause the remnant of this people, to have all these in possession.

This shall Ashkelon see, and be afraid. Gaza shall be very sorry, so shall Ekron also, because her hope is come of confusion. For the king of Gaza shall perish; and at Ashkelon shall no man dwell.

Turn you now to the stronghold, ye that be in prison, and long sore to be delivered: And this day I bring the word, that I will reward thee double again.

This shall be that special day which is known unto the LORD: neither day nor night, but about the evening time it shall be light.

This shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite all people, that have fought against Jerusalem: Namely, their flesh shall consume away, though they stand upon their feet; their eyes shall be corrupt in their holes, and their tongue shall consume in their mouth.

And so shall this plague go over horses, mules, camels, asses, and all the beasts that shall be in the host, like as yonder plague was.

If the kindred of Egypt go not up, and come not, it shall not rain upon them neither. This shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all Heathen, that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Yea, this shall be the sin plague of Egypt and the sin plague of all people that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.