Haggai 2

The Builders Encouraged

1 On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the Lord 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 *2:3 Lit housetemple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? *2:3 Lit Is it not in your eyes likeDoes it not seem to you like nothing *2:3 Lit like itin comparison? 4 But now *2:4 Lit be strongtake courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of armies. 5 ‘As for the *2:5 Lit wordpromise which I *2:5 Lit cut withmade you when you came out of Egypt, *2:5 Or while My Spirit was standingMy Spirit remains in your midst; do not fear!’ 6 For this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Once more *2:6 Lit it is a littlein 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 *2:7 Another reading is the wealth of all nations will comethey will come with the wealth of all nations, 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 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,’ declares the Lord of armies."

10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 "The Lord of armies says this: ‘Now ask the priests for a *2:11 Lit law; or sayingruling: 12 If someone carries holy meat in the *2:12 Lit wingfold of his garment, and touches bread with *2:12 Lit his wingthis fold, or touches cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’ " And the priests answered, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean from a *2:13 Lit soulcorpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?" And the priests answered, "It will become unclean." 14 Then Haggai responded and said, " ‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. 15 But now, do *2:15 Lit set your heartconsider from this day *2:15 Or backwardonward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the Lord, 16 *2:16 Lit since they werefrom that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty *2:16 Lit troughsmeasures, there would be only twenty. 17 I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; *2:17 As in LXX; MT but you were not to Meyet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord. 18 ‘Do *2:18 Lit set your heartconsider from this day *2:18 Or backwardonward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, *2:18 Lit set your heartconsider: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’ "

20 Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the *2:22 Or Gentilesnations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of another.’ 23 ‘On that day,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a *2:23 Or sealsignet ring, for I have chosen you,’ " declares the Lord of armies.