^1. ON the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came by 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 is left among you who saw this [3] temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not [2] seem to you like nothing [1] in comparison?

^4. "But now [4] take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, "take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, "and work; for I am with you,' declares the LORD of hosts.

^5. "As for the [7] promise which I [6] made you when you came out of Egypt, [5] My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!'

^6. «For thus says the LORD of hosts, " Once more [8] in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

^7. "I will shake all the nations; and [9] they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.

^8. "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts.

^9. "The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, "and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts.»

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

^11. «Thus says the LORD of hosts, " Ask now the priests for a [10] ruling:

^12. "If a man carries holy meat in the [12] fold of his garment, and touches bread with [11] this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?'» And the priests answered, «No.»

^13. Then Haggai said, « If one who is unclean from a [13] corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean?» And the priests answered, «It will become unclean.»

^14. Then Haggai said, «" So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,' declares the LORD, "and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

^15. "But now, do [15] consider from this day [14] onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,

^16. [17] from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty [16] measures, there would be only twenty.

^17. "I smote you and every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; [18] yet you did not come back to Me,' declares the LORD.

^18. "Do [21] consider from this day [20] onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, [19] 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 borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.'»

^20. Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of 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 power of the kingdoms of the [22] 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 the LORD of hosts, "I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,' declares the LORD, "and I will make you like a [23] signet ring, for I have chosen you,'» declares the LORD of hosts.