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

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought^(F) to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber^(G) and build my house, so that I may take pleasure^(H) in it and be honored,^(I)” says the Lord. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.^(J) What you brought home, I blew^(K) away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin,^(L) while each of you is busy with your own house.