Haggai

In the second year of Darius’s reign, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord was given to the prophet Haggai for the benefit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

“So says the Lord of hosts: This people claim that the time to rebuild the house of the Lord has not yet come. 

Well now, listen to what I have to say through the prophet Haggai: 

Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this house remains a heap of ruins?

Think about your ways: 

You have sown much 

but harvested little; 

you eat and drink, 

yet are not satisfied; 

you clothe yourselves, 

but still feel cold; 

and the laborer puts 

the money he earned 

into a tattered purse.

Now think about what you must do: 

Go to the mountain and gather wood 

to rebuild the house. 

This will make me happy, 

and I will feel deeply honored, 

says the Lord. 

You expected a lot,

but it turned out to be very little. 

I scattered what you had built up. 

Why? Because my house is in ruins, 

while each of you goes rushing home. 

Therefore, the heavens have withheld rain, 

and the earth has not produced anything. 

I sent drought upon the valley and the hills, 

upon the wheat and the vines, the oil, 

and whatever the soil produces; 

upon people and animals, 

and upon any work of your hands.”

Now, when Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, 

and all the people heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord had sent to speak to them; they paid attention to what the Lord had told them, and the people were filled with respect for God.

Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, passed on to the people this word of the Lord: 

“I am with you.” 

Then the Lord moved the hearts of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people, and they began rebuilding the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. 

It was the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.