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: Commander-in-chief 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 Commander-in-chief 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, ‘Commander-in-chief Yahweh has done to us just what our ways and actions deserved.’ ”