² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set out to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.^(A)

² Then Jeshua son of Jozadak with his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God.^(A)

¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia,^(A)

Fourth Vision: Joshua and Satan

3 Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord and the accuser^[a] standing at his right hand to accuse him.^{(A) 2} And the Lord said to the accuser,^[b] “The Lord rebuke you, O accuser!^[c] The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?”^{(B) 3} Now Joshua was wearing filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. ⁴ The angel^[d] said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.”^(C)

²⁴ I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy because you stand firm in faith.^(A)

¹¹ Take the silver and gold and make a crown^[a] and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak;^(A)

⁶ He said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.^{(A) 7} What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”^(B)

⁸ Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.^(C)

God’s Promise to Zerubbabel

²⁰ The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ²¹ “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth^{(A) 22} and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations and overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders shall fall, every one by the sword of a comrade.^{(B) 23} On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts.”^(C)

⁴ Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts,^{(A) 5} according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.^{(B) 6} For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land,^{(C) 7} and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.^{(D) 8} The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. ⁹ The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”^(E)