Blessings for a Defiled People

^10 (A)On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, ^(B)in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, ¹¹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ^(C)Ask the priests about the law: ¹² ‘If someone carries ^(D)holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, ^(E)“No.” ¹³ Then Haggai said, ^(F)“If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body ^(G)touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” ¹⁴ Then Haggai answered and said, ^(H)“So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.