Haggai 2

1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying,

2Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

3Who among you is left who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

4But now, be strong, Zerubbabel, declares Yahweh, and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all the people of the land, declares Yahweh, and work, for I am with you, declares Yahweh of Armies.

5As for the promise that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is standing in your midst; do not fear.

6For this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.

7And I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.

8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares Yahweh of Armies.

9The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of Armies; and in this place I will give peace, declares Yahweh of Armies.

10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Haggai the prophet, saying,

11Thus says Yahweh of hosts: Ask the priests for a ruling, saying,

12Suppose a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food—does it become holy? And the priests answered and said, “No.”

13Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” And the priests answered and said, “It becomes unclean.”

14Then Haggai answered and said, “So is this people, and so is this nation before me,” declares Yahweh, “and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.”

15And now, please set your heart on this from today onward: before one stone was placed upon another in the temple of Yahweh,

16When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.

17I struck you with blight and mildew and hail, all the work of your hands; yet you did not turn to me, declares Yahweh.

18Set your heart on this from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the temple of Yahweh was founded; consider it.

19Is the seed still in the storehouse? Even the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.

20And the word of Yahweh came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I am shaking the heavens and the earth.

22I will overturn the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its riders, and horses and their riders will go down, each by the sword of his brother.

23On that day, declares Yahweh of Armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares Yahweh, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares Yahweh of Armies.