ימי הצום לא יתבטלו אלא יתהפכו

(18)The word of the Lord of hosts was with me, saying: (19)So said the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourthmonth, the Seventeenth of Tamuz; the fast of the fifth month, the Ninth of Av; the fast of the seventh month, meaning the Fast of Gedalya; and the fast of the tenth month, the Tenth of Tevet; each will be for gladness and for joy, and for happy festivals for the house of Judah. This, finally, is the answer to the question of the exiles as to whether a fast which commemorates the destruction of the First Temple should still be observed. Zechariah explains to them that since good times are coming to Israel, these fast days will not be annulled; people will still commemorate them, but in the opposite manner, as days of joy and festivity. Therefore, love truth and peace. The purpose of fast days is for people to come together, to deal with matters of public need, and try to remedy the flaws of society. Consequently, the prophet emphasizes that even when the fast days become days of celebration, it will be necessary to cleave to truth and establish peace between people, rather than engage in raucous pursuits.