The Coming Glory of God’s House

1In 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?’

4And 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,

5the word that I cut with you⁺

at your⁺ coming forth from Egypt,

and My Spirit is standing in your⁺ midst.

Do not be afraid!”

6For 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.

7And 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.

8Unto Me is the silver, and unto Me the gold,

a declaration of YHWH of Hosts.

9Greater 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.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

10On 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, 12behold, 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.”

13And 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.”

14And 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.

15And now, set, please, your⁺ heart from this day and onward:† From before a stone was placed upon a stone in the house of YHWH, 16From 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. 17I 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.

18Set 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! 19Is 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.”

Zerubbabel Yahweh’s Signet Ring

20And 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;

22and 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.

23On 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.”