1 A nd it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chislev.

And it cometh to pass, in the fourth year of Darius the king hath a word of Jehovah been unto Zechariah, in the fourth of the ninth month, in Chisleu.

2 N ow they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,

And Beth-El sendeth Sherezer and Regem-Melech, and its men, to appease the face of Jehovah,

3 a nd to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

speaking unto the priests who at the house of Jehovah of Hosts, and unto the prophets, saying, `Do I weep in the fifth month -- being separated -- as I have done these so many years?'

4 T hen came the word of Jehovah of hosts unto me, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah of Hosts unto me, saying:

5 S peak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?

`Speak unto all the people of the land, and unto the priests, saying:

6 A nd when ye eat, and when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

When ye fasted with mourning in the fifth and in the seventh -- even these seventy years -- did ye keep the fast Me -- Me? And when ye eat, and when ye drink, is it not ye who are eating, and ye who are drinking?

7 S hould ye not hear the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?

`Are not the words that Jehovah proclaimed by the hand of the former prophets, in Jerusalem's being inhabited, and safety, and its cities round about it, and the south and the plain -- abiding?'

8 A nd the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah unto Zechariah, saying:

9 T hus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother;

`Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, saying: True judgment judge ye, And kindness and mercy do one with another.

10 a nd oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.

And widow, and fatherless, Sojourner, and poor, ye do not oppress, And the calamity of one another ye do not devise in your heart.

11 B ut they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.

And they refuse to attend, And they give a refractory shoulder, And their ears have made heavy against hearing.

12 Y ea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.

And their heart they have made adamant, Against hearing the law, and the words, That Jehovah of Hosts sent by His Spirit, By the hand of the former prophets, And their is great wrath from Jehovah of Hosts.

13 A nd it is come to pass that, as he cried, and they would not hear, so they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts;

And it cometh to pass, as He called, And they have not hearkened, So do they call, and I do not hearken, Said Jehovah of Hosts.

14 b ut I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

And I toss them on all the nations, That they have not known, The land hath been desolate behind them, Of any passing by and turning back, And they set a desirable land for a desolation!