as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,

plotting against him, to catch him in something he might say.

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.

The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.