The Promised Glory of New House
1
On the twenty-frst day of the seventh month,
the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
2
"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,
3
Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you not? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
4
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD.
'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high prest.
Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD,
'and work. For I am with you,'
declares the LORD Allmighty.
5
'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt,
And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
6
"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.
7
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.
8
The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.
9
'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
10
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:
12
If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment,
and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oill or other food,
does it become consecrated?' " The priests answered, "No."
13
Then Haggai said, "If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches
one of these things, does it become defiled?"
"Yes," the priests replied, "it becomes defiled."
14
Then Haggai said, " 'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,'
declares the LORD. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15
" '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.
16
When anyone came to a heap of twenty mesures, there were only ten.
When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures there were only twenty.
17
I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail,
yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD.
18
'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day fo 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
20
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.
22
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.
23
" 'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,'
declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring,
for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty."
