8. This is the Lord’S message to Zechariah:
9. “This is what the Lord All-Powerful said: ‘You must do what is right and fair. You must be kind and show mercy to each other.
10. Don’t hurt widows and orphans, strangers, or poor people. Don’t even think of doing bad things to each other!’”
11. But they refused to listen and refused to do what he wanted. They closed their ears so that they could not hear what God said.
12. They were very stubborn and would not obey the law. The Lord All-Powerful used his Spirit and sent messages to his people through the prophets. But the people would not listen, so the Lord All-Powerful became very angry.
13. So the Lord All-Powerful said, “I called to them, and they did not answer. So now, if they call to me, I will not answer.