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Haggai 2:10-23
New International Reader's Version
Haggai 2:10-23
New International Reader's Version
The Lord Will Make His People Pure and “Clean”
10 A third message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet. The message came on the 24th day of the ninth month of the second year that Darius was king. 11 The Lord who rules over all speaks. He says, “Ask the priests what the law says. 12 Suppose someone carries holy meat in the clothes they are wearing. And the clothes touch some bread or stew. Or they touch some wine, olive oil or other food. Then do these things also become holy?”
The priests answered, “No.”
13 So Haggai said, “Suppose someone is made ‘unclean’ by touching a dead body. And then they touch one of these things. Does it become ‘unclean’ too?”
“Yes,” the priests replied. “It does.”
14 Then here is what Haggai said. “The Lord announces, ‘That is how I look at these people and this nation. Anything they do and anything they sacrifice on the altar is “unclean.”
15 “ ‘Think carefully about this from now on. Think about how things were before the Lord’s temple was built. This was before one stone was laid on top of another. 16 People went to get 20 measures of grain. But they could find only 10. They went to where the wine was stored to get 50 measures. But only 20 were there. 17 You worked very hard to produce all those things. But I struck them with rot, mold and hail. And you still did not return to me,’ announces the Lord. 18 It is the 24th day of the ninth month. From this day on, here is what you should think carefully about. Think about the day when the foundation of my temple was laid. 19 Are any seeds still left in your barns? Until now, your vines and fig trees have not produced any fruit. Your pomegranate and olive trees have not produced any either.
“ ‘But from this day on I will bless you.’ ”
The Lord Compares Zerubbabel to His Royal Ring
20 A final message from the Lord came to Haggai. This message also came on the 24th day of the ninth month. The Lord said, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. Tell him I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will throw down royal thrones. I will smash the power of other kingdoms. I will destroy chariots and their drivers. Horses and their riders will fall. They will be killed by the swords of their relatives.
23 “ ‘Zerubbabel, at that time I will pick you,’ announces the Lord. ‘You are my servant,’ announces the Lord. ‘You will be like a ring that has my royal mark on it. I have chosen you,’ announces the Lord who rules over all.”
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Haggai 2:10-23
New International Version
Haggai 2:10-23
New International Version
Blessings for a Defiled People
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,(A) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests(B) what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat(C) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?(D)’”
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”
“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.(E)”
14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people(F) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer(G) there is defiled.
15 “‘Now give careful thought(H) to this from this day on[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid(I) on another in the Lord’s temple.(J) 16 When anyone came to a heap(K) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat(L) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.(M) 17 I struck all the work of your hands(N) with blight,(O) mildew and hail,(P) yet you did not return(Q) to me,’ declares the Lord.(R) 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought(S) to the day when the foundation(T) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate(U) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.(V)
“‘From this day on I will bless(W) you.’”
Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai(X) a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:(Y) 21 “Tell Zerubbabel(Z) governor of Judah that I am going to shake(AA) the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn(AB) royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.(AC) I will overthrow chariots(AD) and their drivers; horses and their riders(AE) will fall, each by the sword of his brother.(AF)
23 “‘On that day,(AG)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant(AH) Zerubbabel(AI) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,(AJ) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Footnotes
- Haggai 2:15 Or to the days past
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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