Haggai 2
Open in the reader1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of He-Who-Is came through Festal the prophet, saying:
2“Speak to Sown-in-Confusion son of I-Have-Asked-of-God, governor of Praised, and to He-Who-Is-Saves son of He-Who-Is-Righteous, 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?’
4But now be strong, O Sown-in-Confusion, declares He-Who-Is. Be strong, O He-Who-Is-Saves son of He-Who-Is-Righteous, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares He-Who-Is. Work! For I am with you, declares He-Who-Is of Hosts.
5This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Two-Straits. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”
6For this is what He-Who-Is of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the Sea and the dry land.
7I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says He-Who-Is of Hosts.
8The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares He-Who-Is of Hosts.
9The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says He-Who-Is of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares He-Who-Is of Hosts.”
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of He-Who-Is came to Festal the prophet, saying,
11“This is what He-Who-Is of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.
12If 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 devoted?’” “No,” replied the priests.
13So Festal 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.
14Then Festal replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares He-Who-Is, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
15Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of He-Who-Is,
16from 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.
17I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares He-Who-Is.
18Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of He-Who-Is’s temple was laid—consider carefully:
19Is 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.”
20For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of He-Who-Is came to Festal, saying,
21“Tell Sown-in-Confusion governor of Praised that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:
22I 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.
23On that day, declares He-Who-Is of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Sown-in-Confusion son of I-Have-Asked-of-God, declares He-Who-Is, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares He-Who-Is of Hosts.”