1 In the eighth month of the second year of the reign of Persian King Dareyavesh (Darius), Yahweh spoke through the prophet Zekaryah (Zechariah, son of Iddo’s son Berekyah) saying,[ref] 2 “Yahweh was very angry with your ancestors, 3 so tell this to the people: Army commander Yahweh says that if you all turn back to me, I’ll return to you. 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who’d been told by the prophets that army commander Yahweh wanted them to abandon all their evil practices, but they wouldn’t listen or pay attention. That is Yahweh’s declaration.

5 “So where are you ancestors and the prophets now? Do they live forever? 6 But your ancestors didn’t obey my words and my decrees that I commanded through my servants the prophets, but they eventually repented and said, ‘Army commander Yahweh has done to us just what our ways and actions deserved.’ ”