2 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,u the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:v 2 “Speak to Zerubbabelw son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,a x the high priest, and to the remnanty of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this housez in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?a 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong,b Joshua son of Jozadak,c the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am withd you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenantede with you when you came out of Egypt.f And my Spiritg remains among you. Do not fear.’h

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little whilei I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,j the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desiredk by all nations will come, and I will fill this housel with glory,m’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the goldn is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The gloryo of this present housep will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,q’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

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.’ ”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

20 The word of the Lord came to Haggaio a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:p 21 “Tell Zerubbabelq governor of Judah that I am going to shaker the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturns royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.t I will overthrow chariotsu and their drivers; horses and their ridersv will fall, each by the sword of his brother.w

23 “ ‘On that day,x’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servanty Zerubbabelz son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,a for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”