Haggai 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Encouragement and Promise
2 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month,(A) the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: 3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing to you?[a](B) 4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel”—this is the Lord’s declaration.(C) “Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Work! For I am with you”(D)—the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. 5 “This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt,(E) and My Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.”
6 For the Lord of Hosts says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth,(F) the sea and the dry land.(G) 7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,”(H) says the Lord of Hosts. 8 “The silver and gold belong to Me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. 9 “The final glory of this house[b] will be greater than the first,”(I) says the Lord of Hosts. “I will provide peace in this place”(J)—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
From Deprivation to Blessing
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 11 “This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Ask the priests for a ruling.(K) 12 If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become holy?”(L)
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai asked, “If someone defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”(M)
The priests answered, “It becomes defiled.”
14 Then Haggai replied, “So is this people, and so is this nation before Me”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled.
15 “Now, reflect back from this day: Before one stone was placed on another in the Lord’s temple, 16 what state were you in?[c] When someone came to a grain heap of 20 measures, it only amounted to 10; when one came to the winepress to dip 50 measures from the vat, it only amounted to 20. 17 I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew,(N) and hail,(O) but you didn’t turn to Me”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 18 “Consider carefully(P) from this day forward; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid; consider it carefully. 19 Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. But from this day on I will bless you.”(Q)
Promise to Zerubbabel
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.(R) 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms.(S) I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword. 23 On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like My signet ring,(T) for I have chosen you.”(U) This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
Footnotes
- Haggai 2:3 Lit Is it not in your eyes?
- Haggai 2:9 Or The glory of this latter house
- Haggai 2:16 Hb obscure
Haggai 2
International Standard Version
The Future Glory of the Lord’s House
2 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, this message from the Lord came by[a] Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak to Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to Jehozadak’s son Joshua, the high priest, and to the rest[b] of the people, asking, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And what does it look like now? From what you can see, it seems like nothing, doesn’t it? 4 Now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord. ‘Go to work, because I am with you,’ declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 5 ‘My Spirit continues to dwell among you, according to[c] the covenant I established when you came out from Egypt. Don’t be afraid!’
6 “For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘Once more, in a little while, I will make the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land to shake. 7 I will shake all nations, and the One desired by all nations will come. Then I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
8 “The silver belongs to me, as does the gold,”[d] declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. 9 “The glory of this present house will be greater than was the former,” declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.”
God’s Promise to His Sinful People
10 On the twenty-fourth day[e] of the ninth month[f] of the second year of the reign of[g] King Darius, this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 11 “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘Ask the priests about what the Law says: 12 “If a man carries consecrated meat in the folds of his garment, and if his garment touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other edible thing,[h] will these things become consecrated?”’”[i]
The priests answered, “No.”
13 So Haggai responded, “If someone who is unclean[j] because of contact with a dead body were to touch any of these things, would they become unclean?”[k]
The priests responded, “They would be unclean.”[l]
14 Then Haggai answered, “‘That’s how I look at this people and this nation,’ declares the Lord. ‘And that’s how it is with everything they undertake[m] and with what they offer there—it is unclean.[n] 15 Pay attention[o] from now on to how things used to be before one stone had been laid upon another in the Temple of the Lord. 16 When someone came to a pile of grain to get 20 measures,[p] there were only ten. Or when someone approached the wine press to siphon out 50 measures, there were only 20. 17 I punished you and everything that you undertook[q]—with scorching wind, with mildew, and with hail, and you still did not return[r] to me,’ declares the Lord. 18 ‘Pay attention from now on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,[s] when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Pay attention! 19 Is there seed left in the granary? Up until now, neither the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, nor the olive tree has borne fruit, but from this very day I will bless you.’”[t]
God’s Promise to Zerubbabel
20 This message from the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. Tell him, ‘I’m going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow royal thrones. I will annihilate the strength of national governments. I will overthrow chariots along with those who drive them. Both[u] horses and their riders will fall, each one by means of his comrade’s weapon.[v] 23 On that day,’ declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will set you in place like a signet ring. For I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.”
Footnotes
- Haggai 2:1 Lit. by the hand of
- Haggai 2:2 Or the whole remnant
- Haggai 2:5 The Heb. lacks according to
- Haggai 2:8 Lit. me and the gold belongs to me
- Haggai 2:10 The Heb. lacks day
- Haggai 2:10 The Heb. lacks month
- Haggai 2:10 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- Haggai 2:12 Lit. or all food
- Haggai 2:12 Or holy
- Haggai 2:13 I.e. ritually defiled
- Haggai 2:13 I.e. ritually defiled
- Haggai 2:13 I.e. ritually defiled
- Haggai 2:14 Lit. with every work of their hands
- Haggai 2:14 I.e. ritually defiled
- Haggai 2:15 The Heb. lacks Pay attention
- Haggai 2:16 Lit. a pile of 20
- Haggai 2:17 Lit. with every work of your hand
- Haggai 2:17 The Heb. lacks return
- Haggai 2:18 The Heb. lacks month
- Haggai 2:19 The Heb. lacks you
- Haggai 2:22 The Heb. lacks Both
- Haggai 2:22 Lit. sword
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