1. In November of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo:
2. “I, the lord, was very angry with your ancestors.
3. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the lord of Heaven’s Armies.’
4. Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
5. “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead.
6. But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”
7. Three months later, on February 15, the lord sent another message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo.
8. In a vision during the night, I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among some myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were riders on red, brown, and white horses.
9. I asked the angel who was talking with me, “My lord, what do these horses mean?”“I will show you,” the angel replied.
10. The rider standing among the myrtle trees then explained, “They are the ones the lord has sent out to patrol the earth.”
11. Then the other riders reported to the angel of the lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have been patrolling the earth, and the whole earth is at peace.”