Blessings for a Defiled People

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth [month], in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 “This is what the LORD of Hosts says:‘Ask the priests for a ruling 12 If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does [that item] become holy?’ ”

“No,” replied the priests.

13 

So Haggai asked,“If [one who is] defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”

“Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

14 

Then Haggai replied,“So [it is] with this people [and] this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so [it is] with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled

15 

Now vvv consider carefully from this day forward:[fn] Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, 16 from that time, [when] one came expecting a heap of twenty [ephahs of grain],[fn] there were [but] ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty [baths] there were [but] twenty. 17 I struck you— all the work of your hands— with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

18 

Consider carefully from this day forward — from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth [month], the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid — consider carefully 19 Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded [fruit]. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

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