1 The Glory of Yahweh Will Fill the Temple On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet saying,
2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying,
3 ‘Who among you remains who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?
4 But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.
5 ‘As for the 2:5Lit word promise which I cut with you when you came out of Egypt, 2:5Or while...was standing My Spirit is standing in your midst; do not fear!’
6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Once more— 2:6Lit it is a little in a little while—I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.
7 And I will shake all the nations; and 2:7Or the desire of all nations will come they will come with the desirable things of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.
9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.”
10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninthmonth, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Ask now the priestsabout thelaw:
12 If a man carries holy meat in the 2:12 Lit wing fold of his garment and touches bread with 2:12 Lit his wing this fold or cooked food, wine, oil, or anyotherfood, will it become holy?’ ” And the priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a 2:13Lit soul corpse touches any of these, willthe latterbecome unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”
14 Then 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 bring nearto Methere is unclean.
15 But now, oh set your heartto considerfrom this day 2:15Or backward onward: from before one stone was set on another in the temple of Yahweh,
16 2:16Lit since they were from when it was that one came to agrainheap of twentymeasures, then there would be only ten; andfrom whenone came to the wine vat to draw fifty troughs full, then there would beonlytwenty.
17 I struck youandevery work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; 2:17Or but what did we have in common? yet youdidnotcome backto Me,’ declares Yahweh.
18 ‘Oh set your heartto considerfrom this day 2:18 Or backward onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninthmonth; from the day when the temple of Yahweh was founded, set your heartto consider:
19 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not bornefruit. Yet from this day on I will blessyou.’ ”Yahweh Chooses Zerubbabel
20 Then the word of Yahweh came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourthdayof the month, saying,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.
22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the 2:22Or Gentiles nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.’
23 ‘On that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and I will make you like a 2:23Or seal signetring, for I have chosen you,’ ” declares Yahweh of hosts.