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.”