Chapter 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 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 to you like nothing by comparison?
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 Armies.
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 Armies 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 Armies.
8 "The silver and gold belong to me" — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
9 "The final glory of this house will be greater than the first," says the Lord of Armies. "I will provide peace in this place" — this is the declaration of 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 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."
14 Then Haggai replied, "So is this people, and so is this nation before me — this is the Lord ’s declaration. And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled.
15 "Now from this day on, think carefully: Before one stone was placed on another in the Lord ’s temple,
16 what state were you in? When someone came to a grain heap of twenty measures, it only amounted to ten; when one came to the winepress to dip fifty measures from the vat, it only amounted to twenty.
17 I struck you — all the work of your hands — with blight, mildew, and hail, but you didn’t turn to me — this is the Lord ’s declaration.
18 From this day on, think carefully; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord ’s temple was laid; think carefully.
19 Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. 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 overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword.
23 On that day" — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies — "I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant" — this is the Lord ’s declaration — "and make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.