Zechariah 1

2 "I, the LORD, was very angry with your ancestors.

3 Therefore, say to the people, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.'

4 Do not be like your ancestors who would not listen when the earlier prophets said to them, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: Turn from your evil ways and stop all your evil practices.'

5 "Your ancestors and their prophets are now long dead.

6 But all the things I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said they would. As a result, they repented and said, ®MDNM¯`We have received what we deserved from the LORD Almighty. He has done what he said he would do.' ®MDNM¯"

7 Then on February 15* of the second year of King Darius's reign, the LORD sent another message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo. Zechariah said:²

Read Luke 22

1: Hebrew In the eighth month. A number of dates in Zechariah can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This month of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in October and November 520 B.C.

2: Hebrew on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, of the Hebrew calendar. This event occurred on February 15, 519 B.C.; also see note on 1:1.

^{New Living Translation Bible and Notes used with permission Tyndale House Publishers.}