1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came^[a] to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, son of Iddo, saying, ² “Yahweh was very angry with your ancestors.^{[b] 3} You must say to them: ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Return to me,” declares^[c] Yahweh of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. ⁴ “Do not be like your ancestors,^[d] to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Return from your evil ways and your evil deeds!”’ But they did not hear^[e] and they did not pay attention^[f] to me,” declares^[g] Yahweh. ⁵ “Your ancestors,^[h] where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ However, did not my words and my regulations which I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?^[i] And they repented and said, ‘Yahweh of hosts planned to do with us according to our ways, and according to our deeds so he has dealt with us.’”’”