Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

I said in my haste, "All men [are] liars."

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, [who] will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

"Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do [it;] do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God -- my God -- [will be] with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace [be] to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

'Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD, 'and work; for I [am] with you,' says the LORD of hosts.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Fear not, for I [am] with you; Be not dismayed, for I [am] your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

You shall seek them and not find them -- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.

" Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called [you] by your name; You [are] Mine.

For I [am] the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Fear not, for I [am] with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;

" Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

For your Maker [is] your husband, The LORD of hosts [is] His name; And your Redeemer [is] the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this [is] our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This [is] the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.

For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.

For [it is] the day of the LORD's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift [it] up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong [hand,] And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward [is] with Him, And His work before Him.

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good [things,] Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire.

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in [due] time; For the day of their calamity [is] at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.'

He will say: 'Where [are] their gods, The rock in which they sought refuge?

'Now see that I, [even] I, [am] He, And [there is] no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor [is there any] who can deliver from My hand.

If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me.

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, [with] His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land [and] His people."

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, Will save them by the LORD their God, And will not save them by bow, Nor by sword or battle, By horses or horsemen."

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

" Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD.

"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

"For yet a little while, [And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith; But if [anyone] draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!