A PLEA FOR REPENTANCE

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,a the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariahb son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: 2 “The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors.c 3 So tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: Return to me—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies.d 4 Do not be like your ancestors;e the earlier prophets proclaimed to them:f This is what the Lord of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.g But they did not listen or pay attention to me—this is the Lord’s declaration. 5 Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever? 6 But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?’ ”

So the people repented and said, “As the Lord of Armies decided to deal with us for our ways and our deeds, so he has dealt with us.”h

THE NIGHT VISIONS

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

FIRST VISION: HORSEMEN

8 I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a chestnutA horse.i He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley.B Behind him were chestnut, brown, and white horses. 9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”