² in company with Zerubbabel,^(A) Joshua,^(B) Nehemiah, Seraiah,^(C) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):

² “Speak to Zerubbabel^(A) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,^[a](B) the high priest, and to the remnant^(C) of the people. Ask them,

² Then Joshua^(A) son of Jozadak^(B) and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel^(C) and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses^(D) the man of God.

⁶ So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:^(A) ‘Not^(B) by might nor by power,^(C) but by my Spirit,’^(D) says the Lord Almighty.

⁷ “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.^(E) Then he will bring out the capstone^(F) to shouts^(G) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation^(H) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.^(I) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me^(J) to you.

⁴ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong,^(A) Joshua son of Jozadak,^(B) the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with^(C) you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

¹² Then Zerubbabel^(A) son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant^(B) of the people obeyed^(C) the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared^(D) the Lord.

¹³ Then Haggai,^(E) the Lord’s messenger,^(F) gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with^(G) you,” declares the Lord. ¹⁴ So the Lord stirred up^(H) the spirit of Zerubbabel^(I) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak,^(J) the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant^(K) of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,

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 Haggai^(B) to Zerubbabel^(C) son of Shealtiel, governor^(D) of Judah, and to Joshua^(E) son of Jozadak,^[a](F) the high priest:^(G)