Zechariah 8:9-13

These verses, introduced by the phrase, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, and beginning and ending with the same words, Let your hands be strong, form one continuous exhortation to persevere in rebuilding the Temple. The exhortation is grounded upon a comparison of their condition, before and after the time when they began in earnest to build the house of the Lord. The improvement which had already taken place since that time should encourage them to go on building, cheered by fresh prophecies and promises from the mouth of the same prophets who had urged them to begin the work, and of Him whose messengers of good they were.