Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?”

“‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.’

A Call to Justice and Mercy

On December 7 of the fourth year of King Darius’s reign, another message came to Zechariah from the Lord.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.