Zechariah 7

A Call to Justice and Mercy

1In the fourthH702 yearH8141 of KingH4428H1961 DariusH1867, the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 cameH1961 toH413 ZechariahH2148 on the fourthH702 day of the ninthH8671 monthH2320, the month of ChislevH3691.1 2Now the people of BethelH1008 had sentH7971 SharezerH8272 and Regem-melechH7278, along with their menH582,2 to pleadH2470 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 3by askingH559H413 the priestsH3548 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, as well asH413 the prophetsH5030H559, “Should I weepH1058 and fastH5144 in the fifthH2549 monthH2320, asH834 I have doneH6213 theseH2088 manyH4100 yearsH8141?”

4Then the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 cameH1961 to meH413, sayingH559, 5“AskH559H413 allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776H413 and the priestsH3548H559, ‘WhenH3588 you fastedH6684 and mournedH5594 in the fifthH2549 and seventh monthsH7637 for theseH2088 seventyH7657 yearsH8141, was it really for MeH589 that you fastedH6684? 6And whenH3588 you were eatingH398H3588 and drinkingH8354, were you notH3808 doing so simply for yourselvesH8354? 7Are these notH3808 the wordsH1697 thatH834 the LORDH3068 proclaimedH7121 throughH3027 the earlierH7223 prophetsH5030, when JerusalemH3389 and its surroundingH5439 townsH5892 wereH1961 populousH3427 and prosperousH7961, and the NegevH5045 and the foothillsH82193 were inhabitedH3427?’”

8Then the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 cameH1961 toH413 ZechariahH2148, sayingH559, 9“This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635H559 saysH559: ‘AdministerH8199 trueH571 justiceH4941. ShowH6213 loving devotionH26174 and compassionH7356 toH854 oneH376 anotherH251. 10Do notH408 oppressH6231 the widowH490 or the fatherlessH3490, the foreignerH1616 or the poorH6041. And do notH408 plotH2803 evilH7451 in your heartsH3824 against oneH376 anotherH251.’

11But they refusedH3985 to pay attentionH7181 and turnedH5414 a stubbornH5637 shoulderH3802; they stopped upH3513 their earsH241 from hearingH8085.5 12They madeH7760 their heartsH3820 like flintH8068 and would not listen toH8085 the lawH8451 orH853 to the wordsH1697 thatH834 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 had sentH7971 by His SpiritH7307 throughH3027 the earlierH7223 prophetsH5030. Therefore greatH1419 angerH7110 cameH1961 fromH854 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

13AndH1961 just asH834 I had calledH7121 and they would notH3808 listenH8085, soH3651 when they calledH7121 I would notH3808 listenH8085, saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. 14But I scattered them with a whirlwindH5590 amongH5921 allH3605 the nationsH1471 thatH834 they had notH3808 knownH3045, and the landH776 was left desolateH8074 behind themH310 so that no one could comeH5674 or goH7725. Thus they turnedH7760 the pleasantH2532 landH776 into a desolationH8047.”