1. On the fourth day of the ninth month (the month of Chislev) in Darius’ fourth year as king, the Lord spoke his word to Zechariah.
2. Now, ⌊the people from⌋ Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech with their men to ask the Lord for a blessing.
3. They asked the priests from the house of the Lord of Armies as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done for so many years?”
4. Then the Lord of Armies spoke his word to me. He said,