1. And in the fourth year of King Darius, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Kislev, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah.
2. Those in Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek and their men to entreat the graces of the Lord,
3. saying to the priests and prophets of the house of the Lord of Hosts, “Should I weep and dedicate myself during the fifth month as I have done in these many years?”
4. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5. Say to all the people in the land and to the priests: When you fasted and lamented during the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, did you really fast for Me?
6. And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?