¹⁶ He will help many ·people [^Lof the children] of Israel return to the Lord their God [1 Kin. 18:37]. ¹⁷ He will go before ·the Lord [^Lhim] in [the] spirit and power ·like [of] Elijah. He will ·make peace between parents and [^Lturn the hearts of parents/fathers back to] their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the ·right way of thinking [or wisdom of the righteous], ·to make a people ready [^Lto prepare a people who are fit/ready] for the ·coming of the Lord [^LLord; Mal. 4:5–6].”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know ·that what you say is true [^Lthis]? [^LFor] I am an old man, and my wife is old, too [Gen. 17:17].”