A Promise to Rebuild

2 In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh came through[fn] Haggai the prophet, saying, 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 3 ‘Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing to you?[fn] 4 ‘But now take courage,[fn] Zerubbabel,’ declares[fn] Yahweh. ‘Take courage,[fn] Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and take courage,[fn] all the people of the land,’ declares[fn] Yahweh. ‘Do the work, because I am with you,’ declares[fn] Yahweh of hosts, 5 ‘according to the promise[fn] that I covenanted[fn] with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit is with you;[fn] do not be afraid.’ 6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house[fn] with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares[fn] Yahweh of hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace’ declares[fn] Yahweh of hosts.’ ”

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Haggai, saying, 11 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:[fn] 12 If a man carries[fn] consecrated meat in the hem of his garment, and his hem touches bread, or stew, or wine, or olive oil, or any kind of food, will it become holy?’ ” The priests answered, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from contact with a corpse touches any of these, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it will be become unclean.” 14 And Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So it is with this people, and with this nation before me,’ declares[fn] Yahweh, ‘and so it is with every kind of work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. 15 But now, please consider[fn] from this day forward, before one stone was placed on another in the temple of Yahweh, 16 from that time when[fn] one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten, and when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures,[fn] there were only twenty. 17 I struck you with blight, and with plant mildew, and hail, all the work of your hands. But you did not come back to me,’[fn] declares[fn] Yahweh. 18 ‘Please consider[fn] from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid,[fn] consider:[fn] 19 Is there still seed in the store chamber? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still produce nothing? From this day forward I will bless you.’ ”