Haggai 2

1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying:

In the seventh month on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of 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:

“Speak to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people. Say,

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is not such a one as nothing in your eyes?

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

4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work; for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Now, be strong, Zerubbabel!—this is Yahweh's declaration— and be strong, high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak; and be strong, all you people in the land!—this is Yahweh's declaration— and work, for I am with you!—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.

5 The word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt have I established, and My spirit abideth among you; fear ye not.

This is the covenant that I established with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains with you. Do not fear!

6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

For Yahweh of hosts says this: In a little while I will once again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land!

7 and I will shake all nations, and the choicest things of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

I will shake every nation, and every nation will bring their precious things to me, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of hosts.

8 Mine is the silver, and Mine the gold, saith the LORD of hosts.

The silver and gold are mine!—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the LORD of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.'

The glory of this house will be greater in the future than at the beginning, says Yahweh of hosts, and I will give peace in this place!—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.”

10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying:

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11 'Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests for instruction, saying:

“Yahweh of hosts says this: Ask the priests concerning the law, and say,

12 If one bear hallowed flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it be holy?' And the priests answered and said: 'No.'

'If a man carries meat that is set apart to Yahweh in the fold of his garment, and the fold touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any kind of food, does it become holy?'” The priests answered and said, “No.”

13 Then said Haggai: 'If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?' And the priests answered and said: 'It shall be unclean.'

Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean because of death touches any of these things, do they become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “Yes, they become unclean.”

14 Then answered Haggai, and said: 'So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

So Haggai answered and said, “So it is with this people and this nation before me!—this is Yahweh's declaration—and so it is with everything done by their hands. What they offer to me is unclean!

15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and forward — before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD,

So now, think in your minds about the past leading up to this very day. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of Yahweh,

16 through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty press-measures, there were but twenty;

how was it then? When you came to a heap of twenty measures of grain, there were only ten; and when you came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures, there were only twenty.

17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the work of your hands; yet ye turned not to Me, saith the LORD —

I afflicted you and all the work of your hands with blight and mildew, but you still did not turn to me—this is Yahweh's declaration.

18 consider, I pray you, from this day and forward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it;

Consider from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of Yahweh's temple was laid. Consider it!

19 is the seed yet in the barn? yea, the vine, and the fig-tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive-tree hath not brought forth — from this day will I bless you.'

Is there still seed in the storehouse? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not produced! But from this day will I bless you!”

20 And the word of the LORD came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying:

Then the word of Yahweh came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month and said,

21 'Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake the heavens and the earth;

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

22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

For I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations! I will overthrow the chariots and their riders; the horses and their riders will fall down, each one because of his brother's sword.

23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.'

On that day—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts—I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my servant—this is Yahweh's declaration. I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you! —this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts!'”