Zechariah 7

Hearts like Flint

1In the fourthH702 yearH8141 of KingH4428 DariusH1867, the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 cameH1961 to ZechariahH2148 on the fourthH702 day of the ninthH8671 monthH2320, which is 1ChislevH3691. 2Now the town of BethelH1008 had sentH7971 SharezerH8272 and RegemmelechH7278 and 2their menH376 to 34seekH2470 the favorH2470 of the LordH3068, 3speakingH559 to the 5priestsH3548 whoH834 belong to the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 of hostsH6635, and to the prophetsH5030, sayingH559, “Shall I weepH1058 in the 6fifthH2549 monthH2320 7and abstainH5144, as I have doneH6213 theseH2088 manyH4100 yearsH8141?” 4Then the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 of hostsH6635 cameH1961 to me, sayingH559, 5“SayH559 to allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776 and to the priestsH3548, ‘WhenH3588 you fastedH6684 and mournedH5594 in the fifthH2549 and seventhH7637 months 8theseH2088 9seventyH7657 yearsH8141, was it actuallyH6684 for 10Me that you fastedH6684? 6WhenH3588 you eatH398 and drinkH8354, 11do you not eatH398 for yourselves and do you not drinkH8354 for yourselves? 7Are not these the wordsH1697 whichH834 the LordH3068 12proclaimedH7121 by the formerH7223 prophetsH5030, when JerusalemH3389 was inhabitedH3427 and 1314prosperousH7961 along with its citiesH5892 aroundH5439 it, and the 1516NegevH5045 and the 17foothillsH8219 were inhabitedH3427?’”

8Then the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 cameH1961 to ZechariahH2148 sayingH559, 9“ThusH3541 has the LordH3068 of hostsH6635 saidH559, ‘18DispenseH8199 trueH571 justiceH4941 and practiceH6213 19kindnessH2617 and compassionH7356 eachH376 to his brotherH251; 10and 20do not oppressH6231 the widowH490 or the 21orphanH3490, the 22strangerH1616 or the poorH6041; and do 23not deviseH2803 evilH7463 in your heartsH3824 against oneH376 anotherH312.’ 11But they 24refusedH3985 to payH7181 attentionH7181 and 2526turnedH5414 a stubbornH5637 shoulderH3802 and 2728stoppedH3513 their earsH241 from hearingH8085. 12They madeH7760 their 29heartsH3820 like 3031flintH8068 32soH4480 that they could not hearH8085 the lawH8451 and the 33wordsH1697 whichH834 the LordH3068 of hostsH6635 had sentH7971 by His SpiritH7307 throughH3027 the 34formerH7223 prophetsH5030; therefore greatH1419 35wrathH7110 cameH1961 from the LordH3068 of hostsH6635. 13And justH3512 as 36He calledH7121 and they would not listenH8085, soH3651 37they calledH7121 and I would not listenH8085,” saysH559 the LordH3068 of hostsH6635; 14“but I 3839scatteredH5590 them with a 40stormH5590 windH5590 amongH5921 allH3605 the nationsH1471 whomH834 they have not knownH3045. Thus the landH776 is 41desolatedH8074 behindH310 them 42soH4480 that 43noH4480 one wentH5674 backH7725 and forthH5674, for they 44madeH7760 the pleasantH2532 landH776 desolateH8047.”