Return to Me, Declares Yahweh

1 In the eighth month of the second year of ^(A)Darius, the word of ^[a]Yahweh came to ^(B)Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of ^(C)Iddo, saying, ² “Yahweh was very ^(D)wrathful against your fathers. ³ Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “^(E)Return to Me,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. ⁴ “Do not be ^(F)like your fathers, to whom the ^(G)former prophets called out, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “^(H)Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did ^(I)not listen or give heed to Me,” declares Yahweh. ⁵ “Your ^(J)fathers, where are they? And the ^(K)prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My slaves the prophets, ^(L)overtake your fathers? Then they ^[b]returned and said, ‘^(M)As Yahweh of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has done with us.’”’”