1
And it came to pass in the fourthyear of kingDarius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninthmonth, even in Chisleu;
2
When they had sent unto the house of GodSherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray[a]before the LORD,
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And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets,saying, Should I weep in the fifthmonth,separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
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Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
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Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests,saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventyyears, did ye at allfast unto me, even to me?
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And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
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Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath criedby the formerprophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
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And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah,saying,
9
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts,saying, Execute[b]truejudgment, and shewmercy and compassions every man to his brother: