9 Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Let your hands be strong, Ye who are hearing in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets, That in the day the house of Jehovah of Hosts Hath been founded, the temple 'is' to be built. 10 For, before those days there hath been no hiring of man, Yea, a hiring of beasts there is none; And to him who is going out, And to him who is coming in, There is no peace because of the adversary, And I send all men—each against his neighbour. 11 And now, not as 'in' the former days 'am' I to the remnant of this people, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts. 12 Because of the sowing of peace, The vine doth give her fruit, And the earth doth give her increase, And the heavens do give their dew, And I have caused the remnant of this people To inherit all these. 13 And it hath come to pass, As ye have been a reviling among nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, So I save you, and ye have been a blessing, Do not fear, let your hands be strong. 14 For, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, As I did purpose to do evil to you, When your fathers made Me wroth, Said Jehovah of Hosts, and I did not repent, 15 So I have turned back, I have purposed, in these days, To do good with Jerusalem, And with the house of Judah—fear not! 16 These 'are' the things that ye do: Speak ye truth each with his neighbour, Truth and peaceful judgment judge in your gates, 17 And each the evil of his neighbour ye do not devise in your heart, And a false oath ye do not love, For all these 'are' things that I have hated, An affirmation of Jehovah.'
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.