9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts , 'Let your hands be strong , you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets , those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid , to the end that the temple might be built . 10 'For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for animal ; and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies , and I set all men one against another . 11 'But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days ,' declares the Lord of hosts . 12 'For there will be peace for the seed : the vine will yield its fruit , the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew ; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. 13 'It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations , O house of Judah and house of Israel , so I will save you that you may become a blessing . Do not fear ; let your hands be strong .' 14 "For thus says the Lord of hosts , 'Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath ,' says the Lord of hosts , 'and I have not relented , 15 so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah . Do not fear ! 16 'These are the things which you should do : speak the truth to one another ; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates . 17 'Also let none e of you devise evil in your heart against another , and do not love perjury e ; for all these are what I hate ,' declares the Lord ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zechariah 8:9-17
Commentary on Zechariah 8:9-17
(Read Zechariah 8:9-17)
Those only who lay their hands to the plough of duty, shall have them strengthened with the promises of mercy: those who avoid their fathers' faults have the curse turned into a blessing. Those who believed the promises, were to show their faith by their works, and to wait the fulfilment. When God is displeased, he can cause trade to decay, and set every man against his neighbour; but when he returns in mercy, all is happy and prosperous. Surely believers in Christ must not trifle with the exhortation to put away lying, and to speak every man peace with his neighbour, to hate what the Lord hates, and to love that wherein he delights.