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.”
12. Upon hearing this, the angel of the lord prayed this prayer: “O lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?”
13. And the lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14. Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong.