Haggai 2
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 Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the rest of the people:
3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In your eyes, is it not as nothing?
4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” says the LORD. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” says the LORD, “and work, for I am with you,” says the LORD of Armies.
5 “This is the promise I made with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid.
6 For this is what the LORD of Armies says: ‘In a little while, once more, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all the nations, and what is precious to all the nations will come. I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of Armies.
8 ‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the LORD of Armies.
9 ‘The glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former,’ says the LORD of Armies. ‘In this place I will give peace,’ says 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 someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and the fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become consecrated?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’
13 Then Haggai said, “If someone made unclean by a dead body touches any of these things, does it become unclean?” The priests answered, “It becomes unclean.”
14 Then Haggai replied, “That is how this people are, and how this nation is before me,” says the LORD. “So is every work of their hands, and what they offer there is unclean.
15 But now, from this day onward, consider what was happening before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD:
16 When someone came to a heap expecting twenty measures, there were only ten. When someone went to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.
17 I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands, but you did not turn back to me,” says the LORD.
18 “From this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid, consider this carefully.
19 Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet borne fruit. 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 overthrow the throne of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn the chariots and their riders; the horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 “On that day,” says the LORD of Armies, “I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,” says the LORD, “and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,” says the LORD of Armies.
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