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.

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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 the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord of Armies says: Ask the priests for a ruling.(A) 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?” (B)

The priests answered, “No.”

13 Then Haggai asked, “If someone defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” (C)

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.

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