The Builders Encouraged
1 On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the Lordcame 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 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 Lordof 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 Lordof 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 Lordof hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lordof hosts.
9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lordof hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lordof hosts.”
10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninthmonth,in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Ask now the priestsfora 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 anyotherfood, will it become holy?'” And the priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, willthe latterbecome unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”
14 Then Haggai 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 consider from this day onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the Lord,
16 from that timewhenone came to agrainheap of twentymeasures,there would be only ten; andwhenone came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would beonlytwenty.
17 I smote youandevery work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; yet youdidnotcome backto Me,’ declares the Lord.
18 ‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninthmonth;from the day when the temple of the Lordwas 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.'”
20 Then the word of the Lordcame a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourthdayof 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 Lordof hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signetring,for I have chosen you,'” declares the Lordof hosts.
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HAG/2-c7b5e5027ab7abf11768cc5dd40a4738.mp3?version_id=100—