Punishment for Rejecting God’s Demands

⁸ The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: ⁹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;^{(A) 10} do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.^{(B) 11} But they refused to listen and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears in order not to hear.^{(C) 12} They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.^{(D) 13} Just as, when I^[a] called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the Lord of hosts,^{(E) 14} and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.”^(F)

Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.^{(A) 13} Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.^(B)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.^{(C) 15} Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;^[a] do not claim to be wiser than you are.^{(D) 17} Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.^{(E) 18} If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.^{(F) 19} Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God,^[b] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”^{(G) 20} Instead, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.