Haggai 2:1-18 ▼

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD {YHWH} came through Haggai (festive) the prophet, saying:

2 “Speak to Zerubbabel (sown in Babylon) son of Shealtiel (I have asked of God), governor of Judah (praised), and to Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Jehozadak (Jozadak), the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,

3 ‘Who is left among you⁺ who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you⁺ now? Does it not appear to you⁺ like nothing in comparison?’

4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel (sown in Babylon), declares the LORD {YHWH}. Be strong, O Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Jehozadak (YHWH is righteous), the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you⁺, declares the LORD of Hosts.

5 This is the promise I made to you⁺ when you⁺ came out of Egypt (land of bondage). And My Spirit {Ruachi} remains among you⁺; do not be afraid.”

6 For this is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth , the sea and the dry land.

7 I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts.

8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts.

9 The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius (lord), the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Haggai (festive) the prophet, saying,

11 “This is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.

12 If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.

13 So Haggai (festive) asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

14 Then Haggai (festive) replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD {YHWH}, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

15 Now consider carefully from this day forward (backward): Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD {YHWH},

16 from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain \a heap of twenty/, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths \to draw out fifty from the winepress/, there were but twenty.

17 I struck you⁺—all the work of your⁺ hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you⁺ did not turn to Me, declares the LORD {YHWH}.

18 Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s {YHWH} temple was laid—consider carefully: