A Promise to Rebuild

¹ In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh ⌞came through⌟¹ Haggai the prophet, saying,

1. Literally “came through the hand of”

² “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

³ ‘Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing ⌞to you⌟?¹

1. Literally “in your eyes”

⁴ ‘But now take courage,¹ Zerubbabel,’ ⌞declares⌟² Yahweh. ‘Take courage,³ Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and take courage,⁴ all the people of the land,’ ⌞declares⌟⁵ Yahweh. ‘Do the work, because I am with you,’ ⌞declares⌟⁶ Yahweh of hosts,

1. Or “be strong”
2. Literally “a declaration of”
3. Or “Be strong”
4. Or “be strong”
5. Literally “a declaration of”
6. Literally “a declaration of”

⁵ ‘according to ⌞the promise⌟¹ that ⌞I covenanted⌟² with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit ⌞is with you⌟;³ do not be afraid.’

1. Literally “the word”
2. Literally “I cut”
3. Literally “is standing in your midst”

⁶ For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land.

⁷ I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house¹ with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts.

1. That is, the temple

⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ ⌞declares⌟¹ Yahweh of hosts.

1. Literally “a declaration of”

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⌟¹ Yahweh of hosts.’ ”

1. Literally “a declaration of”

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

¹¹ “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:¹

1. Or “a torah,” or “a law”

¹² If a man carries¹ consecrated meat in the hem of his garment, and his hem touches bread, or stew, or wine, or olive oil, or any kind of food, will it become holy?’ ” The priests answered, “No.”

1. Literally “lifts”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from contact with a corpse touches any of these, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it will be become unclean.”

¹⁴ And Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So it is with this people, and with this nation before me,’ ⌞declares⌟¹ Yahweh, ‘and so it is with every kind of work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

1. Literally “a declaration of”

¹⁵ But now, please ⌞consider⌟¹ from this day forward, before one stone was placed on another in the temple of Yahweh,

1. Literally “set your heart”

¹⁶ ⌞from that time when⌟¹ one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten, and when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures,² there were only twenty.

1. Or “from their being,” or “from the time they were then”
2. Hebrew “measure”

¹⁷ I struck you with blight, and with plant mildew, and hail, all the work of your hands. But ⌞you did not come back to me⌟,’¹ ⌞declares⌟² Yahweh.

1. Literally “there were none of you to me”
2. Literally “a declaration of”

¹⁸ ‘⌞Please consider⌟¹ from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid,² ⌞consider⌟:³

1. Literally “Please set your heart”
2. Or “placed,” or “set”
3. Literally “set your heart”

¹⁹ Is there still seed in the store chamber? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still produce nothing? From this day forward I will bless you.’ ”

The Coming Kingdom

²⁰ And the word of Yahweh came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month saying,

²¹ “Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth,

²² and I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the military strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, every one by the sword of another!

²³ ‘On that day,’ ⌞declares⌟¹ Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,’ ⌞declares⌟² Yahweh, ‘and I will make you a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ ⌞declares⌟³ Yahweh of hosts.”

1. Literally “a declaration of”
2. Literally “a declaration of”
3. Literally “a declaration of”