Berean Standard Bible
- 1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying:
- 2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, 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?'
- 4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares Yahweh. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares Yahweh. Work! For I am with you, declares Yahweh of Hosts.
- 5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid."
- 6 For this is what Yahweh of Hosts says: "Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
- 7 I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Hosts.
- 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares Yahweh of Hosts.
- 9 The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares Yahweh of Hosts."
- 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Haggai the prophet, saying,
- 11 "This is what Yahweh of Hosts says: 'Ask the priests for a ruling.
- 12 If 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.
- 13 So 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.
- 14 Then Haggai replied, "So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares Yahweh, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
- 15 Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of Yahweh,
- 16 from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty.
- 17 I struck you-all the work of your hands-with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares Yahweh.
- 18 Consider carefully from this day forward-from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of Yahweh's temple was laid-consider carefully:
- 19 Is 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."
- 20 For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of Yahweh came to Haggai, saying,
- 21 "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:
- 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of 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.
- 23 On that day, declares Yahweh of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares Yahweh, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares Yahweh of Hosts."
