²⁰ Then the Spirit of God ·entered [came upon] Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah stood before the people and said, “·This is what God says [^TThus says God]: ‘Why do you ·disobey [violate; transgress] the Lord’s commands? You will not ·be successful [prosper; succeed]. Because you have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord, he has also ·left [abandoned; forsaken] you.’”

²¹ But ·the king and his officers made plans [they conspired; plotted] against Zechariah. At the king’s command they ·threw stones at [stoned] him in the courtyard of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord until he died. ²² King Joash did not remember Jehoiada’s ·kindness [loyalty; devotion] to him, so Joash ·killed [murdered] Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son. ·Before [As] Zechariah died, he said, “May the Lord ·see what you are doing and punish you [see and avenge].”