This verse consists of only two sentences in Revised Standard Version, but Good News Translation has broken it into three. In this way, the main point is given a clearer emphasis, and stands as a sentence on its own at the beginning. Many translators will find it helpful to follow this example.

Be not like your fathers: For comments on fathers, see verse 1.2 above. The phrase Be not like may also be rendered as “Don’t follow [or, walk] in the same paths as” or “Do not imitate the actions of.” It is also possible to make it clear that the sin of their ancestors was stubbornness and say, “Don’t be stubborn like your ancestors” (Contemporary English Version).

To whom the former prophets cried out: To Zechariah the former prophets meant the prophets who had spoken before the exile. It was not until later than Zechariah’s day that this expression was used as a technical term for the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. Good News Translation uses the rather vague term “Long ago” to translate former. It is also possible to express this clause as “Before they were carried away to Babylon, my messengers spoke to them” or, in languages that do not use the passive, “Before their enemies carried them away to Babylon….” The verb cried out introduces the fourth degree quotation.

The repeated formula Thus says the LORD of hosts begins the fourth degree quotation and introduces the fifth degree quotation. It is translated in Good News Translation as “my message.” See the introductory comments on this paragraph. The actual message given by the earlier prophets is quoted in direct speech in Revised Standard Version, as in the Hebrew. The words used are not an exact quotation of any earlier prophet, though they closely resemble such passages as Jer 18.11; Jer 25.5; Jer 35.15. Because no direct quotation is involved, Good News Translation has used indirect speech. However, languages that cannot use indirect speech should use a model similar to that of Revised Standard Version. Direct speech here will give a more dramatic and forceful style in many languages.

Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds: These words constitute the whole of the fifth degree quotation, and also conclude the fourth degree quotation. The Hebrew word translated Return is the same word as was used in verse 3. It will not be possible to keep this verbal link in many languages. Good News Translation restructures the clause as “telling them not to live evil, sinful lives any longer.” The two noun phrases evil ways and evil deeds both mean basically the same thing, so Good News Translation has put them together into the single phrase “evil, sinful lives.” Ways refers to regular behavior or a habitual manner of life. The Hebrew often connects it with “walking.” If a translator uses direct speech, other ways of expressing this sentence are: “Repent and stop living evil and sinful lives,” or idiomatically, “Turn your hearts around completely and stop living evil lives and doing sinful things,” or more simply “turn your lives around and stop doing evil [or, sinning].”

But they did not hear or heed me: These words continue the third degree quotation. They summarize the response given to the earlier prophets, especially Jeremiah. Again, this is not an exact quotation, but uses terms similar to those in such passages as Jer 7.24; Jer 17.23; Jer 29.19. Good News Translation expresses the meaning in more modern terms as “But they would not listen to me or obey me.” It is also possible to say, “But those people would not listen…” or “but they paid no attention” (Contemporary English Version).

Says the LORD: These words translate a phrase that in Hebrew probably has the discourse function of marking the end of both the third and second degree quotations. Alternatively, it may mark a climax in the third degree quotation, which would then be analyzed as continuing (together with the second degree quotation) to the end of verse 6. It is not possible to be certain, but it seems more satisfying to regard the third and second degree quotations as ending at this point, as this produces a better balance for the whole paragraph.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Don’t follow [or, walk] the same paths as your ancestors. Long ago my messengers [or, prophets] spoke my message to them saying, “Turn your hearts around completely and stop living evil lives and doing wicked things.” But those people would not listen to me or obey me.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .