Haggai

Second Oracle

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the second year of Darius’s reign, this message from the Lord was delivered through the prophet Haggai: 

“Give this message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people.

Is there anyone among you who saw this house long ago, during its glory days? What do they think of what they see now? Is it not a very small thing? 

But I say to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and my people: do not be discouraged. Start working, for I am with you, says the Lord.

Do not be afraid, for my Spirit is in your midst. 

Thus says the Lord of hosts: In a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the continents.

Then I will shake all the nations and bring in the treasures of the whole world. I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord. 

I will have as much silver and gold as I desire.

The reputation of this temple will be greater than before, and in this place, I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts.

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord was again directed to the prophet Haggai. 

He was to ask the priests to settle the following matter according to the law: 

“If someone brings consecrated meat wrapped in his cloak, and the edge of his cloak touches bread, cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will all these become consecrated food?” 

They immediately answered, “No.”

Haggai continued: 

“But if someone becomes unclean by touching a dead body, and then touches any of these things, will they all become unclean?” 

This time, the priests answered: “Yes.”

Then Haggai addressed them:

“So it is with this people and this nation before me, says the Lord, so with everything they do and all they offer here: all is unclean. 

Pay attention to this from now on: what was it like for you before the rebuilding of the temple began? 

 You expected twenty sacks of wheat, but there were only ten. You thought of drawing out fifty measures of wine, but there were only twenty.

I spoiled all your work with blight, mildew, and hail. Yet none of it returned to me, says the Lord.

Pay attention, then, from now on, since the first stone of the Sanctuary of the Lord was laid. 

ee if the wheat, the vine, the fig tree, and the pomegranate continue to yield little! From this day forward, I will bless your olive trees.

The word of the Lord came again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the same month:

“Say to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: 

I will overthrow the thrones of the kings and destroy the power of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its driver; the horses and their riders shall tumble down to the ground. They will kill one another. 

On that day, I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel; and for me, you will be like a ring on my finger with my initials on it. For I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts.”