²⁰ Then the Spirit^(A) of God came on Zechariah^(B) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.^(C) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken^(D) you.’”

²¹ But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned^(A) him to death^(B) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.^(C)

The Fall of Jerusalem^(A)(B)

¹⁵ The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers^(C) again and again,^(D) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.

¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(A) at his prophets until the wrath^(B) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^(C)

³⁵ “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.^(A)

³⁶ Then he sent other servants^(A) to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.