Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to Haggai^(A) a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:^{(B) 21} “Tell Zerubbabel^(C) governor of Judah that I am going to shake^(D) the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overturn^(E) royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.^(F) I will overthrow chariots^(G) and their drivers; horses and their riders^(H) will fall, each by the sword of his brother.^(I)

²³ “‘On that day,^(J)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant^(K) Zerubbabel^(L) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,^(M) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

⁸ “‘Listen, High Priest^(A) Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic^(B) of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.^(C)

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.

¹⁰ “Who dares despise the day^(K) of small things,^(L) since the seven eyes^(M) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone^[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”^(N)

A Crown for Joshua

⁹ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁰ “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.^(A) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. ¹¹ Take the silver and gold and make a crown,^(B) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua^(C) son of Jozadak.^{[a](D) 12} Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,^(E) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.^{(F) 13} It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he^[b] will be a priest^(G) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ ¹⁴ The crown will be given to Heldai,^[c] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen^[d] son of Zephaniah as a memorial^(H) in the temple of the Lord. ¹⁵ Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,^(I) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(J) This will happen if you diligently obey^(K) the Lord your God.”