2
1 In
the seventh month,
in the
twenty-first day
of the month,
the LORD’s word
came by Haggai
the prophet,
saying,
2 “Speak now
to Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah,
and to Joshua
the son of
Jehozadak, the
high priest, and
to the remnant
of the people,
saying,
3 ‘Who
is left among
you who saw
this house in
its former glory?
How do you
see it now? Isn’t
it in your
eyes as nothing?
4 Yet
now be strong,
Zerubbabel,’ says
the LORD. ‘Be
strong, Joshua son
of Jehozadak, the
high priest. Be
strong, all you
people of
the land,’ says
the LORD, ‘and
work, for I
am with you,’
says the LORD
of Armies.
5 This
is the word
that I covenanted
with you when
you came out
of Egypt, and
my Spirit lived
among you. ‘Don’t
be afraid.’
6 For
this is what
the LORD of
Armies says: ‘Yet
once more, it
is a little
while, and I
will shake the
heavens, the earth,
the sea, and
the dry land;
7 and
I will shake
all nations.
The treasure of
all nations will
come, and I
will fill this
house with glory,
says the LORD of
Armies.
8 The
silver is mine,
and the gold
is mine,’ says the
LORD of Armies.
9 ‘The latter
glory of this
house will be
greater than the
former,’ says the
LORD of Armies; ‘and
in this place
I will give
peace,’ says the
LORD of Armies.”
10 In
the twenty-fourth day
of the ninth month,
in the second
year of Darius,
the LORD’s word
came by Haggai
the prophet,
saying,
11 “The
LORD of Armies
says: Ask now
the priests
concerning the law,
saying,
12 ‘If someone
carries holy meat
in the fold
of his garment,
and with his
fold touches bread,
stew, wine, oil,
or any food,
will it become
holy?’ ”
The priests
answered, “No.”
13 Then
Haggai said, “If
one who is
unclean by reason
of a dead
body touches any
of these, will
it be unclean?”
The priests
answered, “It will
be unclean.”
14 Then
Haggai answered, “ ‘So
is this people,
and so is
this nation before
me,’ says the
LORD; ‘and so
is every work
of their hands.
That which they
offer there is
unclean.
15 Now,
please consider
from this day
and backward, before
a stone was laid
on a stone in
the LORD’s temple.
16 Through all
that time, when
one came to
a heap of
twenty measures,
there were only
ten. When one
came to the
wine vat to
draw out fifty,
there were only
twenty.
17 I
struck you with
blight, mildew,
and hail in
all the work
of your hands;
yet you didn’t turn
to me,’ says
the LORD.
18 ‘Consider,
please, from this
day and backward,
from the
twenty-fourth day
of the ninth month,
since the day
that the
foundation of the
LORD’s temple was
laid, consider it.
19 Is
the seed yet
in the barn? Yes,
the vine, the
fig tree, the
pomegranate, and
the olive
tree haven’t produced. From
today I will
bless you.’ ”
20 The
LORD’s word came
the second time
to Haggai in
the twenty-fourth
day of the
month, saying,
21 “Speak to
Zerubbabel, governor
of Judah, saying, ‘I
will shake the
heavens and the
earth.
22 I will
overthrow the
throne of kingdoms.
I will destroy the
strength of the
kingdoms of the
nations. I will
overthrow the
chariots and those
who ride in
them. The horses
and their riders
will come down,
everyone by the
sword of
his brother.
23 In
that day, says
the LORD of
Armies, I will
take you,
Zerubbabel my
servant, the son
of Shealtiel,’
says the LORD, ‘and
will make you
like a signet ring,
for I have
chosen you,’ says
the LORD of
Armies.”