1In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying:
2Speak 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:
3Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not, in comparison with it, as nothing in your eyes?
4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel — declaration of Yahweh — and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land — declaration of Yahweh — and work, for I am with you — declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
5The word that I cut with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit stands among you; do not be afraid.
6For thus says Yahweh of hosts: Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7And I will shake all the nations, and the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of hosts.
8The silver is mine and the gold is mine — declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
9The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of hosts, and in this place I will give peace — declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
10On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Haggai the prophet, saying:
11Thus says Yahweh of hosts: Ask now the priests for a ruling, saying:
12If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold he touches bread or stew or wine or oil or any food, will it become holy? And the priests answered and said, “No.”
13Then Haggai said, “If one defiled by a corpse touches any of these, will it become unclean?” And the priests answered and said, “It will become unclean.”
14Then Haggai answered and said, “So is this people, and so is this nation before me — declaration of Yahweh — and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
15And now, set your heart, please, from this day onward — before stone was set on stone in the temple of Yahweh:
16— how were you? When one came to a heap expecting twenty measures, there were ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures from the press, there were twenty.
17I struck you with blight and mildew and hail — all the work of your hands — yet you did not turn to me — declaration of Yahweh.
18Set your heart, please, from this day onward — from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the temple of Yahweh was founded — set your heart:
19Is the seed still in the storehouse? Even the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet borne. From this day I will bless.
20And the word of Yahweh came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth of the month, saying:
21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
22and I will overturn the throne of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overturn the chariot and its riders, and horses and their riders will go down, each by the sword of his brother.
23On that day — declaration of Yahweh of hosts — I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant — declaration of Yahweh — and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you — declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
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