Haggai

2* In the year two of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, Jehovah’s word came by the prophet Haggai: 2 “Say to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshuaʽ the son of Jehosadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, 3* ‘Who is there among you of the older generation, one that saw this house in its former glory? and what do you see it now? does it not look to you the same as nothing? 4* But now be resolute, Zerubbabel, quoth Jehovah, and be resolute, High Priest Joshuaʽ son of Jehosadak, and be resolute, all people of the country, quoth Jehovah, and keep at work, for I am with you, quoth Jehovah of Armies, 5 and my spirit stands fast in your midst; do not be afraid.’

6* “For Jehovah of Armies says ‘One period more—it is a little one—and I am going to shake the sky and the earth, and the sea and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all the nations, and the choice things of all the nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Jehovah of Armies. 8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine, quoth Jehovah of Armies. 9* The future glory of this house shall be greater than the first, says Jehovah of Armies, and in this place I will make all well, quoth Jehovah of Armies.’”

10* On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month in the year two of Darius, Jehovah’s word came by the prophet Haggai 11 “Says Jehovah of Armies, Ask the priests for a ruling: 12 suppose a man carries consecrated flesh in the flap of his coat, and touches with his flap bread or vegetables or wine or oil or any eatable, will it become consecrated?” And the priests answered “No.” 13 And Haggai said “If one who is unclean by a dead body touches any of these will it become unclean?” And the priests answered “It will.” 14* And Haggai answered “So it is with this people and so with this nation before me, quoth Jehovah, and so with all the work of their hands and what they come near: it is unclean. 15 And now pay attention from this day on. When a stone had not yet been laid on a stone in Jehovah’s temple 16*** how were you doing? coming to a heap good for twenty sacks and having it turn out ten, coming to the winepress to dip out fifty jars and having it turn out twenty; 17 I have struck you with blasting and mildew and hail, all the work of your hands, and you were not heading toward me, quoth Jehovah. 18** Pay attention from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of Jehovah’s temple was laid; pay attention; 19*** is the seed still in the barn? and the grapevine and the fig-tree and the pomegranate-tree have not set; from this day I will bless.”

20 And Jehovah’s word came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth of the month, 21 “Say to Zerubbabel the governor of Judah ‘I am going to shake the sky and the earth, 22 and overturn imperial thrones and quell the force of the nations’ empires, and overturn chariots and their riders, and ponies and their riders shall go down by each other’s swords. 23* On that day, quoth Jehovah of Armies, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, quoth Jehovah, and make you like a seal, for you I have chosen, quoth Jehovah of Armies.’”