Haggai 2

1 In the seventh [month], on the twenty-first of the month, the word of YHWH came by the hand Haggai the prophet, saying,

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 [is] remaining among you⁺ that saw this house in its former glory? And how are you⁺ seeing it now? [Is it] not in comparison as nothing in your⁺ eyes?’

4 And now be strong, O Zerubbabel, a declaration of YHWH, and be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, a declaration of YHWH, and work. For I [am] with you⁺, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts,

5 the word that I cut with you⁺ at your⁺ coming forth from Egypt, and My Spirit is standing in your⁺ midst. Do not be afraid!”

6 For thus says YHWH of Hosts: “Once more, it [is] a little while, and I will be shaking the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land.

7 And I will shake all the nations, and they will come with the treasure of all the nations, and I will fill this house with glory, says YHWH of Hosts.

8 Unto Me [is] the silver, and unto Me the gold, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts.

9 Greater will be the glory of this latter house than the former, says YHWH of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts.”

10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninth [month], in the second year of Darius, the word of YHWH came to Haggai the prophet, saying:

11 “Thus says YHWH of Hosts: ‘Ask now the priests [about] the law, saying,

12 behold, [if] a man should carry holy flesh in the fold of his garment, and he touches with his fold against bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered and said, “No.”

13 And Haggai said, “If one unclean by a dead body touches any of these [things], will it be unclean?” And the priests answered and said, “It will be unclean.”

14 And Haggai answered and said, “Thus [is] this people, and thus [is] this nation before My face, a declaration of YHWH, and thus [is] every work of their hands, and what they offer there, it [is] unclean.

15 And now, set, please, your⁺ heart from this day and onward: From before a stone was placed upon a stone in the house of YHWH,

16 From their being, [when] one came toward a heap of twenty, then there were [but] ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty [from] the press, then there were [but] twenty.

17 I struck you⁺ with the blight and with mildew and with hail, all the work of your⁺ hands, and you⁺ [were] not with Me, a declaration of YHWH.

18 Set now your⁺ heart from this day and onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth [month], from the day that the temple of YHWH was founded—set your⁺ heart!

19 Is the seed still in the barn? Until now the vine and the fig tree and the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne; from this day I will bless.”

20 And the word of YHWH came a second [time] to Haggai on the twenty-fourth of the month, saying,

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

22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and those riding them, and the horses and their riders will come down, each man by the sword of his brother.

23 On that day, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant, a declaration of YHWH, and will set you as a signet ring, for I have chosen you, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts.”