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Haggai 1-2
Contemporary English Version

Rebuild the Temple

1 (A) On the first day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was king of Persia,[a] the Lord told Haggai the prophet to speak his message to the governor of Judah and to the high priest.

So Haggai told Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua[b] 2-5 that the Lord All-Powerful had said to them and to the people:

You say this isn't the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses,[c] while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what's happening. 6 You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don't keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.

7 Think about what I have said! 8 But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there. 9 You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It's because you hurry off to build your own houses, while my temple is still in ruins. 10 That's also why the dew doesn't fall and your harvest fails. 11 And so, at my command everything will become barren—your farmland and pastures, your vineyards and olive trees, your animals and you yourselves. All your hard work will be for nothing.

12 Zerubbabel and Joshua, together with the others who had returned from exile in Babylonia, obeyed the Lord's message spoken by his prophet Haggai, and they started showing proper respect for the Lord. 13 Haggai then told them that the Lord had promised to be with them. 14 So the Lord God All-Powerful made everyone eager to work on his temple, especially Zerubbabel and Joshua. 15 And the work began on the twenty-fourth day of that same month.

The Glorious New Temple

2 1-2 On the twenty-first day of the next month,[d] the Lord told Haggai the prophet to speak this message to Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua, and everyone else:

3 (B) Does anyone remember how glorious this temple used to be? Now it looks like nothing. 4 But cheer up! Because I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work, 5 (C) just as I promised your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Don't worry. My Spirit is[e] right here with you.

6 (D) Soon I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake the nations, and their treasures[f] will be brought here. Then the brightness of my glory will fill this temple. 8 All silver and gold belong to me, 9 and I promise that this new temple will be more glorious than the first one. I will also bless this city[g] with peace.

The Past and the Future

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,[h] the Lord God All-Powerful told the prophet Haggai 11 to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matters:

12 Suppose meat ready to be sacrificed to God is being carried in the folds of someone's clothing, and the clothing rubs against some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or any other food. Would those foods that were touched then become acceptable for sacrifice?

“Of course not,” the priests answered.

13 (E) Then Haggai said, “Suppose someone has touched a dead body and is considered unacceptable to worship God. If that person touches these foods, would they become unclean?”

“Of course they would,” the priests answered.

14 So the Lord told Haggai to say:

That's how it is with this entire nation. Everything you do and every sacrifice you offer is unacceptable to me. 15 But from now on, things will get better. Before you started laying the foundation for the temple, 16 you recalled what life was like in the past.[i] When you wanted 200 kilograms of wheat, there were only 10, and when you wanted 50 jars of wine, there were only 20. 17 I made all of your hard work useless by sending mildew, mold, and hail—but you still did not return to me, your Lord.

18 Today you have completed the foundation for my temple, so listen to what your future will be like. 19 Although you have not yet harvested any grain, grapes, figs, pomegranates,[j] or olives, I will richly bless you in the days ahead.

God's Promise to Zerubbabel

20 That same day the Lord spoke to Haggai again and said:

21 Tell Governor Zerubbabel of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth 22 and wipe out kings and their kingdoms. I will overturn war chariots, and then cavalry troops will start slaughtering each other. 23 But tell my servant Zerubbabel that I, the Lord All-Powerful, have chosen him, and he will rule in my name.[k]

Footnotes

  1. 1.1 sixth month … king of Persia: Elul, the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-August to mid-September; the second year of the rule of Darius was 520 b.c.
  2. 1.1 Governor … Joshua: Hebrew “Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.”
  3. 1.2-5 expensive houses: Either houses with paneled interiors or with roofs; the temple was not yet completely rebuilt at this time.
  4. 2.1,2 the next month: Tishri (also called Ethanim), the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-September to mid-October (see the note at 1.1).
  5. 2.5 My Spirit is: Or “I am.”
  6. 2.7 their treasures: Hebrew “what they most desire.”
  7. 2.9 city: Or “temple.”
  8. 2.10 ninth month: Chislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-November to mid-December.
  9. 2.16 you recalled … past: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  10. 2.19 pomegranates: A bright red fruit that looks like an apple.
  11. 2.23 rule in my name: The Hebrew text has “be my signet ring,” which signified authority.
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Haggai 1-2
New International Version

A Call to Build the House of the Lord

1 In the second year of King Darius,(A) on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai(B) to Zerubbabel(C) son of Shealtiel, governor(D) of Judah, and to Joshua(E) son of Jozadak,[a](F) the high priest:(G)

2 This is what the Lord Almighty(H) says: “These people(I) say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.(J)’”

3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:(K) 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses,(L) while this house remains a ruin?(M)”

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

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought(S) to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber(T) and build my house, so that I may take pleasure(U) in it and be honored,(V)” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.(W) What you brought home, I blew(X) away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin,(Y) while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld(Z) their dew(AA) and the earth its crops.(AB) 11 I called for a drought(AC) on the fields and the mountains,(AD) on the grain, the new wine,(AE) the olive oil(AF) and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.(AG)”

12 Then Zerubbabel(AH) son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant(AI) of the people obeyed(AJ) the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared(AK) the Lord.

13 Then Haggai,(AL) the Lord’s messenger,(AM) gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with(AN) you,” declares the Lord. 14 So the Lord stirred up(AO) the spirit of Zerubbabel(AP) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak,(AQ) the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant(AR) of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.(AS)

The Promised Glory of the New House

In the second year of King Darius,(AT) 2 1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,(AU) the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:(AV) 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel(AW) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,[b](AX) the high priest, and to the remnant(AY) of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house(AZ) in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?(BA) 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong,(BB) Joshua son of Jozadak,(BC) the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with(BD) you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted(BE) with you when you came out of Egypt.(BF) And my Spirit(BG) remains among you. Do not fear.’(BH)

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while(BI) I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,(BJ) the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired(BK) by all nations will come, and I will fill this house(BL) with glory,(BM)’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold(BN) is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory(BO) of this present house(BP) will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,(BQ)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Blessings for a Defiled People

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,(BR) 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(BS) what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat(BT) 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?(BU)’”

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.(BV)”

14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people(BW) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer(BX) there is defiled.

15 “‘Now give careful thought(BY) to this from this day on[c]—consider how things were before one stone was laid(BZ) on another in the Lord’s temple.(CA) 16 When anyone came to a heap(CB) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat(CC) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.(CD) 17 I struck all the work of your hands(CE) with blight,(CF) mildew and hail,(CG) yet you did not return(CH) to me,’ declares the Lord.(CI) 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought(CJ) to the day when the foundation(CK) 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(CL) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.(CM)

“‘From this day on I will bless(CN) you.’”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai(CO) a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:(CP) 21 “Tell Zerubbabel(CQ) governor of Judah that I am going to shake(CR) the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn(CS) royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.(CT) I will overthrow chariots(CU) and their drivers; horses and their riders(CV) will fall, each by the sword of his brother.(CW)

23 “‘On that day,(CX)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant(CY) Zerubbabel(CZ) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,(DA) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Footnotes

  1. Haggai 1:1 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verses 12 and 14
  2. Haggai 2:2 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4
  3. Haggai 2:15 Or to the days past
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Haggai 1-2
King James Version

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.

3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.

13 Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.

14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

2 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying,

2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:

5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord:

16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.

17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the Lord.

18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider it.

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

20 And again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,

21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

23 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.

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