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Haggai 1
New English Translation

Introduction

1 On the first day of the sixth month[a] of King Darius’[b] second year, the Lord’s message came through[c] the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak:[d]

The Accusation of Indifference Against the People

2 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies[e] has said: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’”[f] 3 The Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai as follows:[g] 4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses[h] while my temple is in ruins?[i] 5 Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing.[j] 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’”[k]

Consequences of the Failure to Rebuild the Temple

7 Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “Pay close attention to these things also.[l] 8 Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build[m] the temple.[n] Then I will be pleased and honored,”[o] says the Lord. 9 “You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little.[p] And when you would bring it home, I would blow it right away.[q] Why?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house![r] 10 This is why the sky[s] has held back its dew and the earth its produce.[t] 11 Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.”[u]

The Response of the Leaders and the People

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,[v] along with the whole remnant of the people,[w] obeyed[x] the Lord their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him,[y] and the people began to respect the Lord.[z] 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s announcement to the people:[aa] “I am with you,” decrees the Lord. 14 So the Lord energized and encouraged[ab] Zerubbabel[ac] son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,[ad] and the whole remnant of the people.[ae] They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 15 This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year.[af]

Footnotes

  1. Haggai 1:1 sn The first day of the sixth month was Elul 1 according to the Jewish calendar; August 29, 520 b.c. according to the modern (Julian) calendar.
  2. Haggai 1:1 sn King Darius is the Persian king Darius Hystaspes who ruled from 522-486 b.c.
  3. Haggai 1:1 tn Heb “by the hand of.” This suggests that the prophet is only an instrument of the Lord; the Lord is to be viewed as the true author (see 1:3; 2:1; Mal 1:1).
  4. Haggai 1:1 tn The typical translation “Joshua (the) son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (cf. ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV) can be understood to mean that Jehozadak was high priest. However, Zech 3:1, 8 clearly indicate that Joshua was high priest (see also Ezra 5:1-2; cf. NAB). The same potential misunderstanding occurs in Hag 1:12, 14 and 2:2, where the same solution has been employed in the translation.
  5. Haggai 1:2 sn The epithet Lord of Heaven’s Armies occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Haggai (see 1:5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yehvah tsevaʾot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV, NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.
  6. Haggai 1:2 tn Heb “the time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be built” (similar KJV). A number of English versions refer to “rebuilding” (so NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT) since the reconstruction of Solomon’s temple is actually in view.
  7. Haggai 1:3 tn Heb “and the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 1 and the note there.
  8. Haggai 1:4 sn Richly paneled houses. Paneling is otherwise known in the OT only in connection with the temple (1 Kgs 6:9) and the royal palace (2 Kgs 7:3, 7). It implies decoration and luxury (cf. NCV “fancy houses”; TEV “well-built houses”; NLT “luxurious houses”). The impropriety of the people living in such lavish accommodations while the temple lay unfinished is striking.
  9. Haggai 1:4 tn Heb “Is it time for you, [yes] you, to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins”; NASB “lies desolate”; NIV “remains a ruin.”
  10. Haggai 1:5 tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways” (see 2:15, 18); traditionally “Consider your ways” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB).
  11. Haggai 1:6 tn Some translate “pockets” (so NLT) but the Hebrew word צְרוֹר (tseror) refers to a bag, pouch, or purse of money (BDB 865 s.v. צְרוֹר; HALOT 1054 s.v. צְרוֹר 1). Because coinage had been invented by the Persians and was thus in use in Haggai’s day, this likely is a money bag or purse rather than pouches or pockets in the clothing. Since in contemporary English “purse” (so NASB, NIV, NCV) could be understood as a handbag, the present translation uses “money bags.”
  12. Haggai 1:7 tn Heb “Set your heart upon your ways”; see v. 5.
  13. Haggai 1:8 tn Heb “and build the house” (so NIV, NRSV), with “house” referring specifically to the temple here.
  14. Haggai 1:8 sn The temple was built primarily of stone, so the timber here refers to interior paneling (see v. 4) and perhaps to scaffolding (see Ezra 5:8; 6:4).
  15. Haggai 1:8 tn The Hebrew verb אֶכָּבְדָ (ʾekkavda) appears to be a defectively written cohortative (“that I may be glorified”). The cohortatives (note that the preceding אֶרְצֶה, ʾertseh, “I will be pleased,” may also be taken as cohortative) indicate purpose or result (cf. NIV, NRSV “so that”; CEV “so”) following the imperatives of v. 8a (“go up,” “bring back,” “build”).
  16. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “Turning for much—look! It is [become] little!” The term פָּנֹה (panoh) means “turning [the head],” and here it is in order to look around. The term הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) is an interjection drawing attention to the point being made.
  17. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “I would blow at/against it.” The imagery here suggests that human achievements are so fragile and temporal that a mere breath from God can destroy them.
  18. Haggai 1:9 tn Heb “and each of you runs to his own house”; NIV “is busy with”; TEV “is busy working on”; NCV “work hard for.”
  19. Haggai 1:10 tn The Hebrew text has “over you” (so KJV), but this is redundant in contemporary English and has been left untranslated.
  20. Haggai 1:10 sn This linkage of human sin to natural disaster is reminiscent of the curse brought upon the earth by Adam’s disobedience (Gen 3:17-19; see Rom 8:20-22).
  21. Haggai 1:11 tn Heb “all the labor of hands” (similar KJV, NASB, NIV); cf. NAB “all that is produced by hand.”
  22. Haggai 1:12 tn Many English versions have “Joshua [the] son of Jehozadak, the high priest,” but this is subject to misunderstanding. See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
  23. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “all the remnant of the people.” The Hebrew phrase שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם (sheʾerit haʿam) in this postexilic context is used as a technical term to refer to the returned remnant (see Ezra 9:14; Isa 10:20-22; 11:11, 16; Jer 23:3; 31:7; and many other passages). Cf. TEV “all the people who had returned from the exile in Babylonia.”
  24. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “heard the voice of”; NAB “listened to the voice of.”
  25. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “and according to the words of Haggai the prophet just as the Lord their God sent him.” Some English versions (e.g., NAB, NIV, NCV) take the last clause as causal: “because the Lord their God had sent him.”
  26. Haggai 1:12 tn Heb “and the people feared from before the Lord”; NASB “showed reverence for the Lord.”
  27. Haggai 1:13 tn Heb “Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, said by the message of the Lord to the people.” The Hebrew is repetitive and has been simplified in keeping with contemporary English style.
  28. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “stirred up” (as in many English versions). Only one verb appears in the Hebrew text, but the translation “energized and encouraged” brings out its sense in this context. Cf. TEV “inspired”; NLT “sparked the enthusiasm of”; CEV “made everyone eager to work.”sn It was God who initiated the rebuilding by providing the people with motivation and ability.
  29. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “the spirit of Zerubbabel” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).
  30. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (as in many English versions), but this is subject to misunderstanding. See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
  31. Haggai 1:14 tn Heb “and the spirit of all the remnant of the people.” The Hebrew phrase שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם (sheʾerit haʿam) in this postexilic context is used as a technical term to refer to the returned remnant; see the note on the phrase “the whole remnant of the people” in v. 12.
  32. Haggai 1:15 sn The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year was September 21, 520 b.c., twenty-three days after the original command by Haggai to rebuild (1:1). The text does not state the reason for the delay, but it may have resulted from the pressing need to bring in the late summer harvest.
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Haggai 1
Common English Bible

The challenge to rebuild

1 The Lord’s word came through Haggai the prophet in the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month on the first day of the month, to Judah’s governor Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s son, and to the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak’s son:

2 This is what the Lord of heavenly forces says:
    These people say, “The time hasn’t come,
        the time to rebuild the Lord’s house.”

3 Then the Lord’s word came through Haggai the prophet:

4         Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses
            while this house lies in ruins?
5 So now, this is what the Lord of heavenly forces says:
    Take your ways to heart.
6     You have sown much, but it has brought little.
    You eat, but there’s not enough to satisfy.
    You drink, but not enough to get drunk.
    There is clothing, but not enough to keep warm.
    Anyone earning wages puts those wages into a bag with holes.

7 This is what the Lord of heavenly forces says:
    Take your ways to heart.
8     Go up to the highlands and bring back wood.
    Rebuild the temple so that I may enjoy it
        and that I may be honored, says the Lord.
9 You expect a surplus, but look how it shrinks.
You bring it home, and I blow it away, says the Lord of heavenly forces,
        because my house lies in ruins.
But all of you hurry to your own houses.
10 Therefore, the skies above you have withheld the dew,
        and the earth has withheld its produce because of you.
11 I have called for drought on the earth,
        on the mountains, on the grain,
        on the wine, on the olive oil,
        on that which comes forth from the fertile ground,
        on humanity, on beasts,
        and upon everything that handles produce.

12 Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s son, and the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak’s son, along with all who remained among the people, listened to the voice of the Lord God and to the words of Haggai the prophet because the Lord their God sent him. Then the people feared the Lord.

13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the Lord’s message to the people:

I am with you, says the Lord.

14 The Lord moved the spirit of Judah’s governor Zerubbabel, Shealtiel’s son, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak’s son, and the spirit of all the rest of the people. Then they came and did work on the house of the Lord of heavenly forces, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.

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Haggai 2
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