1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,1:1 Ezr 4:5,24; 5:5–7; Ezr 6:1,12–15; Neh 12:22; Hg 1:1,15; 2:10; Zch 7:1 the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah1:1 Ezr 5:1; 6:14 son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

2“The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors.1:2 Zch 8:14

3So 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.1:3 Neh 1:9; Is 44:22; Jr 3:7,10; 24:7; Am 4:6–11; Mal 3:7

4Do not be like your ancestors;1:4 2Ch 30:7,8; Ps 78:8,57 the earlier prophets proclaimed to them:1:4 Dn 9:6,10; Am 3:7 This is what the Lord of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.1:4 2Kg 17:13; 2Ch 7:14; Ezk 33:9,11 But they did not listen or pay attention to me — this is the Lord’s declaration.

5Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever?

6But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? ’”

7On 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:

8I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a chestnut1:8 Lit red horse.1:8 Rv 6:4 He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley.1:8 Lit depths Behind him were chestnut, brown, and white horses.

9I asked, “What are these, my lord?”

18Then I looked up and saw four horns.1:18 Ezk 43:15,20

19So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?”