1. In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
2. “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers.
3. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
4. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.
5. “Your fathers, where are they?And the prophets, do they live forever?
6. Yet surely My words and My statutes,Which I commanded My servants the prophets,Did they not overtake your fathers?“So they returned and said:‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us,According to our ways and according to our deeds,So He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”
7. On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: