1 [The LORD declares,] "On that day a fountain will be opened for David's family and for those who live in Jerusalem to wash away [their] sin and stain.

2 "On that day," declares the LORD of Armies, "I will wipe away the names of the idols from the land. They will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the [false] prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. 3 "If a man still prophesies, his father and his mother, who gave birth to him, will say, 'You don't deserve to live because you speak lies in the name of the LORD.' Then his father and his mother, who gave birth to him, will stab him when he prophesies. 4 "On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He won't deceive people by dressing [like a prophet] in a coat made of hair. 5 He will say, 'I am not a prophet. I'm a farmer. I've owned this land since I was a child.' 6 "When someone asks him, 'What are these scars on your chest?' he will answer, 'I was hurt at my friend's house.'

7 "Arise, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my friend," declares the LORD of Armies. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. Then I will turn my hand against the little ones."

8 The LORD declares, "Throughout the land two-thirds will be cut off and die. Yet, one-third will be left in it.

9 I will bring this third [of the people] through the fire. I will refine them as silver is refined. I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on me, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people.' They will reply, 'The LORD is our God.'"