Haggai 2

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Lord sent a message through the prophet Haggai.

In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the LORD’s word came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

2 Say to Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remaining people,

“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 Is there anyone left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it seem like nothing to you?

‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is not it in your eyes as nothing?

4 So then be strong, Zerubbabel! Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, high priest! Be strong, all you people who remain in the land! Work, for I am with you, says the Lord Almighty.

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 Just as I promised you when you left Egypt, my Spirit continues to be among you. Don't be afraid!

This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Do not be afraid.’

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: Soon I will shake the heavens and the earth once more, and the sea and the dry land.

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 I will shake all the nations, and the one desired by all of the nations will come and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord Almighty.

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, declares the Lord Almighty.

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the LORD of Armies.

9 The glory of this second house will be greater than the first, says the Lord Almighty, and I will bring peace in this place. So declares the Lord Almighty.

‘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 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of the reign of king Darius, the Lord sent a message through the prophet Haggai.

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 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: Ask the priests about the law.

“The LORD of Armies says: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12 If someone carries some meat from a holy sacrifice in a fold of their clothes and that fold touches some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or any other kind of food, does that food become holy?” And the priests answered, “No.”

‘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 asked, “If someone becomes unclean by touching a dead body and then touches any of these foods, do they become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it does become unclean.”

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 responded, “This is how it is with these people, and with the nation before me, says the Lord. All that they do, every offering they bring, is unclean.”

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 think about what you're doing from this day on. Before a stone was laid on another stone in the house of the Lord,

Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the LORD’s temple.

16 how was it for you? You expected a store of grain with twenty measures but only found ten. You thought you could empty out fifty measures from the winepress but there was only twenty.

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 with blight and mildew and hail everything you were working so hard for, but even so you refused to come back to me, says the Lord.

I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you did not turn to me,’ says the LORD.

18 Think about what you're doing from this day on, today the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month when a foundation was laid for the house of the Lord. Think about it:

‘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 the seed is still in the barn. The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate tree, and the olive tree have not yet given fruit. But from this day on I will bless you.

Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not produced. From today I will bless you.’”

20 The Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:

The LORD’s word came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

21 Tell Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.

“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth.

22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the nations' kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and their riders. The horses and riders will fall, and the men will kill each other by the sword.

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 On that day, says the Lord, I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, my servant, and make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you. So declares the Lord Almighty.

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.”