Zechariah 7:7-12

7Are these not the words which the Lord 1proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and 2carefree along with its cities around it, and the 34Negev and the 5foothills were inhabited?’”

8Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9“This is what the Lord of armies has said: ‘6Dispense true justice and practice 7kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10and 8do not oppress the widow or the 9orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do 10not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11But they 11refused to pay attention, and 1213turned a stubborn shoulder and 1415plugged their ears from hearing. 12They also made their 16hearts as hard as 17a diamond 18so that they could not hear the Law and the 19words which the Lord of armies had sent by His Spirit through the 20former prophets; therefore great 21wrath came from the Lord of armies.