1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month,  * the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?  *4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel — this is the Lord’s declaration.  * Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land — this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you  *  — the declaration of the Lord of Armies. 5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt,  * and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’ "

6 For the Lord of Armies says this: "Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth,  * the sea and the dry land.  *7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,"  * says the Lord of Armies. 8 "The silver and gold belong to me" — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. 9 "The final glory of this house  * will be greater than the first,"  * says the Lord of Armies. "I will provide peace in this place"  *  — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 "This is what the Lord of Armies says: Ask the priests for a ruling.  *12 If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become holy? "  *

The priests answered, "No."

13 Then Haggai asked, "If someone defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled? "  *

The priests answered, "It becomes defiled."

14 Then Haggai replied, "So is this people, and so is this nation before me — this is the Lord’s declaration. And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled.

15 "Now from this day on, think carefully: Before one stone was placed on another in the Lord’s temple, 16 what state were you in?  * When someone came to a grain heap of twenty measures, it only amounted to ten; when one came to the winepress to dip fifty measures from the vat, it only amounted to twenty. 17 I struck you — all the work of your hands — with blight, mildew,  * and hail,  * but you didn’t turn to me — this is the Lord’s declaration. 18 From this day on, think carefully;  * from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid; think carefully. 19 Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. But from this day on I will bless you."  *

20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  *22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms.  * I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword. 23 On that day" — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies — "I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant" — this is the Lord’s declaration — "and make you like my signet ring,  * for I have chosen you."  * This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.