1. In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:
2. “The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors.
3. So tell the people: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Return to Me” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts — “and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.
4. Do not be like your ancestors; the earlier prophets proclaimed to them: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not listen or pay attention to Me” — this is the Lord’s declaration.
5. “Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever?
6. But didn’t My words and My statutes that I commanded My servants the prophets overtake your ancestors? They repented and said: As the Lord of Hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so He has dealt with us.”
7. On 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:
8. I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
9. I asked, “What are these, my lord? ”The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”