Haggai, 2

1. In the seventh [month], in the one and twentieth [day] of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,

1. On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the second year of the reign of Darius, this word of Yahweh was sent through the prophet Haggai,

2. Speak 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,

2. "Give this message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people:

3. Who [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?

3. Is there left among you one of those who saw this house long ago in the time of its glory? What do they think of what they see now? Is it not a very little thing?

4. Yet 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:

4. But I say to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua and my people: do not be discouraged. Begin to work, for I am with you, says Yahweh.

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

5. Do not be afraid, for my spirit is in your midst.

6. For 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];

6. Thus says Yahweh of hosts, within a short while I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents.

7. And 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.

7. Then I will shake all the nations and bring in the treasures of the whole world. I will fill this House with glory, says Yahweh.

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

8. I will have as much silver and gold as I wish.

9. The 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.

9. The renown of this Temple will be greater than before, and in this place I will give peace," says Yahweh of hosts.

10. In 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,

10. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh was directed again to the prophet Haggai.

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

11. He should ask the priests to resolve the following case in accordance with the Law:

12. If 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.

12. "If someone brings consecrated meat wrapped in his cloak, and the edge of his cloak touches bread, cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will all these become consecrated food?" They immediately answered, "No."

13. Then 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.

13. Haggai went on to say, "But if someone becomes unclean by having touched a dead body, and then touches any of these things, will all these become unclean?" This time the priests said, "Yes."

14. Then 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.

14. Then Haggai addressed them, "So it is with this people and this nation before me, says Yahweh, so with everything they do and all they offer here: all is unclean.

15. And 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:

15. Pay attention to this from now on: how was it with you before the rebuilding of the Temple was begun?

16. Since 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.

16. You expected twenty sacks of wheat, but there were only ten. You thought of drawing out fifty measures of wine but there were only twenty.

17. I 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.

17. I spoiled all your work with blight, mildew and hail. Yet none returned to me, says the Lord.

18. Consider 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].

18. Pay attention, then, from now on, since the first stone of the Sanctuary of Yahweh was laid.

19. Is 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].

19. See if the wheat, the vine, the fig tree and the pomegranate go on yielding little! From this day on I will bless your olive trees."

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

20. The word of Yahweh came again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the same month,

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

21. "Say to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah:

22. And 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.

22. I will overthrow the thrones of the kings and destroy the power of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its driver; the horses and their riders shall tumble down to the ground. They will kill one another.

23. In 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.

23. On that day I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, and for me you will be like a ring on my finger with my initials on it. For I have chosen you, says Yahweh of hosts."