Haggai 2

¹ on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,[*a] the word of Yahweh was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows,

² ‘You are to speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high commissioner of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people. Say this,

³ “Who is there left among you that saw this Temple in its former glory? And how does it look to you now? Does it seem nothing to you?

⁴ But take courage now, Zerubbabel – it is Yahweh who speaks. Courage, High. Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak! Courage, all you people of the country! – it is Yahweh who speaks. To work! I am with you – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks –

⁵ and my spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid!

⁶ For Yahweh Sabaoth says this: A little while now, and I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

⁷ I will shake all the nations and the treasures of all the nations shall flow in, and I will fill this Temple with glory, says Yahweh Sabaoth.

⁸ Mine is the silver, mine the gold! – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks.

⁹ The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, says Yahweh Sabaoth, and in this place I will give peace – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks.”‘

¹⁰ On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius,[*b] the word of Yahweh was addressed to the prophet Haggai as follows,

¹¹ ‘Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Ask the priests for a decision on this question,

¹² “If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his gown and with this fold touches bread, broth, wine, or food of any kind, does such food become holy?”‘ The priests answered, ‘No, it does not’.

¹³ Haggai then said, ‘If a man made unclean by contact with a corpse touches any of this, does it become unclean?’ The priests answered, ‘Yes, it does’.

¹⁴ Haggai then spoke out. ‘It is the same with this people,’ he said ‘the same with this nation as I see it – it is Yahweh who speaks – the same with everything they turn their hands to; and what they offer here is unclean.

¹⁵ ‘Reflect carefully from today onwards. Before one stone had been laid on another in the sanctuary of Yahweh,

¹⁶ what state were you in? A man would come to a twenty-measure heap and there would be ten; he would come to a vat to draw fifty measures and there would be twenty.

¹⁷ I struck with blight and mildew and hail everything you turned your hands to. And still you would not is return to me – it is Yahweh who speaks.

¹⁸ Reflect carefully from today onwards (from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the sanctuary of Yahweh was laid, think carefully)

¹⁹ if grain is still short in the barn, and if vine and fig tree, pomegranate and olive, still bear no fruit. From today onwards I intend to bless you.’

²⁰ On the twenty-fourth day of the month the word of Yahweh was addressed a second time to Haggai, as follows,

²¹ ‘Speak to Zerubbabel, the high commissioner of Judah. Say this, “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.

²² I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kings of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and their charioteers; horses and their riders will be brought down; they shall fall, each to the sword of his fellow.

²³ When the day comes – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks – I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks – and make you like a signet ring. For I have chosen you – it is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks.”‘