Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
9 How can a young person live a pure life?
He can do it by obeying your word.
10 With all my heart I try to obey you, God.
Don’t let me break your commands.
11 I have taken your words to heart
so I would not sin against you.
12 Lord, you should be praised.
Teach me your demands.
13 My lips will tell about
all the laws you have spoken.
14 I enjoy living by your rules
as people enjoy great riches.
15 I think about your orders
and study your ways.
16 I enjoy obeying your demands.
And I will not forget your word.
The Beauty of the Temple
2 The Lord spoke his word through Haggai the prophet on the twenty-first day of the seventh month. This is what the Lord said: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah. Speak also to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And speak to the rest of the people who were left alive. Say: 3 ‘Do any of you who are still alive remember how beautiful the Temple was before it was destroyed? What does it look like now? The truth is it means nothing to you!’ 4 But the Lord says: ‘Zerubbabel, be brave. Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, be brave. And all you people who live in the land, be brave,’ says the Lord. ‘Work, because I am with you,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies. 5 ‘I made a promise to you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit is still with you. So don’t be afraid.’
6 “This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘In a short time I will shake the heavens and earth once again. And I will shake the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations. All the nations will bring their wealth. Then I will fill this Temple with glory,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies. 8 ‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies. 9 ‘The new Temple will be more beautiful than the one that was destroyed,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies. ‘And in this place I will give peace to the people,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies.”
The Lord Makes a Promise to Zerubbabel
20 Then the Lord spoke his word a second time to Haggai. It was on the twenty-fourth day of the month. This is what the Lord said: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will destroy the foreign kingdoms. I will take away the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will destroy the chariots and their riders. The horses will fall with their riders. People will kill each other with swords.’ 23 The Lord of heaven’s armies says this: ‘On that day I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant.’ The Lord says this: ‘I will make you important like my signet ring. This is because I have chosen you!’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies.”
34 The crowd said, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus said, “The light will be with you for a little longer. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not catch you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 So believe in the light while you still have it. Then you will become sons of light.” When Jesus had said this, he left and hid himself from them.
Some Don’t Believe in Jesus
37 Though Jesus had done many miracles before the people, they still did not believe in him. 38 This was to make clear the full meaning of what Isaiah the prophet said:
“Lord, who believed the things we told them?
Who has seen the Lord’s power?” Isaiah 53:1
39 This is why the people could not believe: Isaiah also said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes.
He has closed their minds.
This is so that they will not see with their eyes
nor understand in their minds.
This is so they will not
come back to me and be forgiven.” Isaiah 6:10
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 But many people believed in Jesus, even many of the leaders. But because of the Pharisees, they did not say that they believed in him. They were afraid that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 They loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “He who believes in me is really believing in the One who sent me. 45 He who sees me sees the One who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world. I came so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who refuses to believe in me and does not accept my words. The word I have taught will be his judge on the last day. 49 The things I taught were not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. 50 And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.