¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people^(A) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer^(B) there is defiled.

¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure,^(A) but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.^(B) In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.^(C)

⁴ “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses,^(A) while this house remains a ruin?^(B)”

⁵ Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought^(C) to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little.^(D) You eat, but never have enough.^(E) You drink, but never have your fill.^(F) You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages,^(G) only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought^(H) to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber^(I) and build my house, so that I may take pleasure^(J) in it and be honored,^(K)” says the Lord. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.^(L) What you brought home, I blew^(M) away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin,^(N) while each of you is busy with your own house. ¹⁰ Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld^(O) their dew^(P) and the earth its crops.^{(Q) 11} I called for a drought^(R) on the fields and the mountains,^(S) on the grain, the new wine,^(T) the olive oil^(U) and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.^(V)”

²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(A) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.^[a](B)