As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.

I will remember my covenant with Jacob and with Isaac and with Abraham, and I will renew my promise to give my people the land.

Then the LORD showed concern for his land; he had mercy on his people.

So I have come back to Jerusalem to show mercy to the city. My Temple will be restored, and the city will be rebuilt."

"Will the Lord always reject us? Will he never again be pleased with us?

How I pray that victory will come to Israel from Zion. How happy the people of Israel will be when the LORD makes them prosperous again!

When the LORD brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!

How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us, "The LORD did great things for them."

In all there were 5,400 gold and silver bowls and other articles which Sheshbazzar took with him when he and the other exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Many of the exiles left the province of Babylon and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, all to their own hometowns. Their families had been living in exile in Babylonia ever since King Nebuchadnezzar had taken them there as prisoners.

The LORD says, "I will restore my people to their land and have mercy on every family; Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and its palace restored.

The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says, "When I restore the people to their land, they will once again say in the land of Judah and in its towns, 'May the LORD bless the sacred hill of Jerusalem, the holy place where he lives.'

The Sovereign LORD said, "But now I will be merciful to Jacob's descendants, the people of Israel, and make them prosperous again. I will protect my holy name.

The LORD says, "At that time I will restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem.