^1:2The Lord who rules over all⁵ says this: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’ ”⁶^1:3So the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows:⁷^1:4“Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses⁸ while my temple is in ruins?⁹

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Footnotes

5 The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Haggai (see 1:5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yéhvah tséva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so , , ; cf. , “Lord Almighty”; , “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123–57.
6 Heb “the time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be built” (similar ). A number of English versions refer to “rebuilding” (so , , , , ) since the reconstruction of Solomon’s temple is actually in view.
7 Heb “and the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 1 and the note there.
8 Richly paneled houses. Paneling is otherwise known in the OT only in connection with the temple (1 Kgs 6:9) and the royal palace (2 Kgs 7:3, 7). It implies decoration and luxury (cf. “fancy houses”; “well-built houses”; “luxurious houses”). The impropriety of the people living in such lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.
9 Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins”; “lies desolate”; “remains a ruin.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”

Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“The Lord of Armies says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”

The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”

NLTNew Living Translation

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’ ”

Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘This people says, “The time has not come to rebuild the temple of Yahweh.’ ” And the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your houses that have been paneled while this house is desolate?”

KJV 1900King James Version

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,

And this house lie waste?

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