Haggai 2

1In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,footnote a

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

3Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

6For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

9The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

10In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

14Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

15And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

16Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.

17I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

18Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.

19Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

20And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,

21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

23In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Coming Glory of God’s House

1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying: 2“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak,footnote a the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

4But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,declares the LORD.Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak,the high priest.And be strong, all you people of the land,declares the LORD.Work! For I am with you,declares the LORD of Hosts. 5This is the promise I made to youwhen you came out of Egypt.And My Spirit remains among you;do not be afraid.”

6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says:“Once more, in a little while,I will shake the heavens and the earth,footnote bthe sea and the dry land. 7I will shake all the nations,and they will come with all their treasures,and I will fill this house with glory,says the LORD of Hosts. 8The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,declares the LORD of Hosts. 9The latter glory of this housewill be greater than the former,says the LORD of Hosts.And in this place I will provide peace,declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. 12If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’”
“No,” replied the priests.

13So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”
“Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

14Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

15Now consider carefully from this day forward:footnote c Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, 16from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain,footnote d there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths,footnote e there were but twenty. 17I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

18Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully: 19Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring

20For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying, 21“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:

22I will overturn royal thronesand destroy the powerof the kingdoms of the nations.I will overturn chariots and their riders;horses and their riders will fall,each by the sword of his brother. 23On that day,declares the LORD of Hosts,I will take you, My servant,Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,declares the LORD,and I will make you like My signet ring,for I have chosen you,declares the LORD of Hosts.”