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11 You will hear the sounds of happy people. You will hear the songs of men and women at their weddings. You will hear the voices of people as they bring gifts to the Lord's temple to thank him. They will say,

‘We thank the Lord Almighty,
    because he is good.
His faithful love continues for ever.’

Yes, I will make the land successful again, as it was before.” That is what the Lord says.

12 The Lord Almighty says, “This place will become a heap of stones. No people or animals will live here. But I will put fields of grass around the towns again. There will be places for shepherds to rest with their sheep. 13 Shepherds will count their sheep again, one by one. They will do that in the towns of the hill country, in the low hills in the west and in the Negev region in the south. They will do it in the land that belongs to Benjamin's tribe, in the villages around Jerusalem and in all the towns of Judah.” That is what the Lord says.

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11 the sounds of joy and gladness,(A) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings(B) to the house of the Lord, saying,

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
    for the Lord is good;(C)
    his love endures forever.”(D)

For I will restore the fortunes(E) of the land as they were before,(F)’ says the Lord.

12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate(G) and without people or animals(H)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.(I) 13 In the towns of the hill(J) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(K) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand(L) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

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