Zechariah 7

The Lord Wants Kindness and Mercy

7 <1> Zechariah received a message from the Lord in the fourth year that Darius[18] was the king of Persia. This was on the fourth day of the ninth month (Kislev). <2> The people of Bethel sent Sharezer, Regem-Melech, and his men to ask the Lord a question. <3> They went to the prophets and to the priests at the Temple of the Lord All-Powerful. They asked them this question: "For many years we have shown our sadness for the destruction of the Temple. In the fifth month of each year we have had a special time of crying and fasting.[19] Should we continue to do this?"

<4> I received this message from the Lord All-Powerful: <5> "Tell the priests and the other people in this country this: 'For seventy years you fasted and showed your sadness in the fifth month and in the seventh month. But was that fasting really for me? <6> And when you ate and drank, was that for me? No, it was for your own good. <7> The Lord used the earlier prophets to say the same thing long ago. He said this while Jerusalem was still a prosperous city filled with people and while there were still people who lived in the towns around Jerusalem, and in the Negev, and in the western foothills.'"

<8> This is the Lord's message to Zechariah:

<9> "This is what the Lord All-Powerful said:

'You must do what is right and fair.

You must be kind and

show mercy to each other.

<10> Don't hurt widows and orphans,

strangers, or poor people.

Don't even think of doing bad things to each other!'"

<11> But they refused to listen

and refused to do what he wanted.

They closed their ears so that they

could not hear what God said.

<12> They were very stubborn

and would not obey the law.

The Lord All-Powerful used his Spirit

and sent messages to his people through the prophets.

But the people would not listen,

so the Lord All-Powerful became very angry.

<13> So the Lord All-Powerful said,

"I called to them,

and they did not answer.

So now, if they call to me,

I will not answer.

<14> I will bring the other nations against them like a storm.

They didn't know those nations,

but the country will be destroyed

after those nations pass through.

This pleasant country will be destroyed."