1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet:
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 like nothing to you ?
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 Hosts.
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 Hosts 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 Hosts.
8 “ The silver and gold belong to Me ” — this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.
9 “ The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the LORD of Hosts. “ I will provide peace in this place” — this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet:
11 “ This is what the LORD of Hosts 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.”
