The Promised Glory of the New House
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O the twenty-first day of the seventh month,
the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
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"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest,
and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
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Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
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But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares theLORD.
'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD,
'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.
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This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt.
And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
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"This is what the LORD Almighty says:
'In a little while I will once more shake
the heavens and the earth the sea and the dry land.
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I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty.
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'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' delcares the LORD Almighty.
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'The glory of this present house will be greater than
the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty.
'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty"
Blessings for a Defiled People
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On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of Darius,
the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai:
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"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Ask the priests what the law says:
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If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment,
and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food,
does it become consecrated?' " The priests answered, "No."
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That Haggai said, "If a person defiled by contact with a dead body
touches one of these things, does it become defiled?"
"Yes," the priest replied, "It becomes defiled."
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Then Haggai said, " 'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,'
delares the LORD. 'Whatever they do and whatever the offer there is defiled.
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" 'Now give careful thought to this from this day on -
consider how things were before one stone was laid on another
in the LORD's temple.
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When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten.
When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.
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I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail,
yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD.
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'From this day on, from this tweny-fourth day of the ninth month,
give careful thought to the day when the foundation of
the LORD's temple was laid. Give careful thought:
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Is there yet any seed left in the barn?
Until now, the vine and the fig tree,
the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
" 'From this day on I will bless you.' "
Zerubbabel the LORD's Signet Ring
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The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time
on the twenty-fourth day of the month:
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"Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth.
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I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.
I will over throw chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall,
each by the sword of his brother.
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" 'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares theLORD,
'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.'
declares the LORD Almighty."