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.”