7 This is what the Lord said through the earlier prophets at the time when Jerusalem was prosperous and filled with people and when there were many people living not only in the towns round the city but also in the southern region and in the western foothills.
8 The Lord gave this message to Zechariah:
9 “Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another.
10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.’
11 “But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds
12 and made their hearts as hard as rock. Because they would not listen to the teaching which I sent through the prophets who lived long ago, I became very angry.
13 Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed.