11 There will be sounds of joy and gladness. There will be the happy sounds of brides and bridegrooms. There will be the sounds of people bringing their offerings to the Temple of the Lord. Their offerings will be to show thanks to the Lord. They will say,‘Praise the Lord of heaven’s armies!The Lord is good!His love continues forever!’They will say this because I will again do good things for Judah. It will be as in the beginning,” says the Lord.
12 This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: “This place is empty now. There are no people or animals living here. But there will be shepherds in all the towns of Judah. And there will be pastures where they let their flocks of sheep rest.
13 Shepherds will again count their sheep as the sheep walk in front of them. People will be counting their sheep all around the country. They will count them in the mountains and in the western mountain slopes. They will count them in southern Judah and the land of Benjamin. They will count them around Jerusalem and the other towns of Judah!”
14 The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will do the things I promised. I made a special promise to the people of Israel and Judah.
15 In those days and at that time,I will make a righteous branch sprout from David’s family.He will do what is fair and right in the land.
16 At this time Judah will be saved.The people of Jerusalem will live in safety.The branch will be named:The Lord Does What Is Right.”
17 This is what the Lord says: “Someone from David’s family will always sit on the throne. And he will rule the family of Israel.