A Call to Build the House of the Lord

1 In the second year of King Darius,a on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggaib to Zerubbabelc son of Shealtiel, governord of Judah, and to Joshuaa e son of Jozadak,b f the high priest:g

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

3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:k 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses,l while this house remains a ruin?m”

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thoughtn to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little.o You eat, but never have enough.p You drink, but never have your fill.q You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages,r only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thoughts to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timbert and build my house, so that I may take pleasureu in it and be honored,v” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.w What you brought home, I blewx away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin,y while each of you is busy with your own house.