[1] Zechariah received a message from the LORD in the fourth year that Darius was the king of Persia. This was on the fourth day of the ninth month (Kislev). [2] The people of Bethel sent Sharezer, Regem-Melech, and his men to ask the LORD a question. [3] They went to the prophets and to the priests at the Temple of the LORD All-Powerful. They asked them this question: "For many years we have shown our sadness for the destruction of the Temple. In the fifth month of each year, we have had a special time of crying and fasting. Should we continue to do this?" [4] I received this message from the LORD All-Powerful: [5] "Tell the priests and the other people in this country this: 'For seventy years you fasted and showed your sadness in the fifth month and in the seventh month. But was that fasting really for me? [6] And when you ate and drank, was that for me? No, it was for your own good. [7] The LORD used the earlier prophets to say the same thing long ago. That was when Jerusalem was still a rich city filled with people and there were still people living in the surrounding towns, in the Negev, and in the western foothills.'" [8] This is the LORD's message to Zechariah: [9] "This is what the LORD All-Powerful said: 'You must do what is right and fair. You must be kind and show mercy to each other. [10] Don't hurt widows and orphans, strangers, or poor people. Don't even think of doing bad things to each other!'" [11] But they refused to listen and refused to do what he wanted. They closed their ears so that they could not hear what God said. [12] They were very stubborn and would not obey the law. The LORD All-Powerful used his Spirit and sent messages to his people through the prophets. But the people would not listen, so the LORD All-Powerful became very angry. [13] So the LORD All-Powerful said, "I called to them, and they did not answer. So now, if they call to me, I will not answer. [14] I will bring the other nations against them like a storm. They didn't know those nations, but the country will be destroyed after those nations pass through. This pleasant country will be destroyed."
