[1:1] In the eighth month of the second year that Darius was emperor of Persia, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo.
[1:2] The Lord Almighty told Zechariah to say to the people, “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors,
[1:3] but now I say to you, ‘Return to me, and I will return to you.
[1:4] Do not be like your ancestors. Long ago the prophets gave them my message, telling them not to live evil, sinful lives any longer. But they would not listen to me or obey me.
[1:5] Your ancestors and those prophets are no longer alive.
[1:6] Through my servants the prophets I gave your ancestors commands and warnings, but they disregarded them and suffered the consequences. Then they repented and acknowledged that I, the Lord Almighty, had punished them as they deserved and as I had determined to do.’”