1On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the L 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 temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?
4‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the L, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the L, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the L of hosts.
5‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’
6“For thus says the L of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.
7‘I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the L of hosts.
8‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the L of hosts.
9‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the L of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the L of hosts.”
10On the twenty-fourth of the ninthmonth, in the second year of Darius, the word of the L came to Haggai the prophet, saying,11“Thus says the L of hosts, ‘Ask now the priestsfor a ruling:12‘If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or anyother food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, “No.”13Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, willthe latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”14Then Haggai said, “ ‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the L, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.15‘But now, do consider from this day onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the L,16from that timewhen one came to agrain heap of twentymeasures, there would be only ten; andwhen one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would beonly twenty.17‘I smote youand every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; yet youdid notcome back to Me,’ declares the L.18‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninthmonth; from the day when the temple of the L was founded, consider:19‘Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not bornefruit. Yet from this day on I will blessyou.’”
20Then the word of the L came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourthday of the month, saying,21“Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.22‘I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.’23‘On that day,’ declares the L of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the L, ‘and I will make you like a signetring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the L of hosts.
