Blessings for a Defiled People

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,r in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priestss what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meatt in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?u’ ”

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.v”

14 Then Haggai said, “ ‘So it is with this peoplew and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offerx there is defiled.

15 “ ‘Now give careful thoughty to this from this day onb—consider how things were before one stone was laidz on another in the Lord’s temple.a 16 When anyone came to a heapb of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vatc to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.d 17 I struck all the work of your handse with blight,f mildew and hail,g yet you did not returnh to me,’ declares the Lord.i 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thoughtj to the day when the foundationk of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranatel and the olive tree have not borne fruit.m

“ ‘From this day on I will blessn you.’ ”