Former displeasure and the new promise of blessings

10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, this message from the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 11 The Lord of hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling: 12 “If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and with that garment touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’

And the priests answered: ‘No.’

13 Then said Haggai, ‘If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?’

And the priests answered: ‘It would be unclean.’

14 Haggai replied: ‘So is this people and so is this nation before me, the Lord declares, and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. 15 Think back from this day, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord. 16 How were you? When you came to a heap of grain expecting twenty measures, there were only ten; when you came to the wine vat to draw out fifty vessels, there were only twenty. 17 “I struck all the work of your hands with blasting and blight, with mildew and with hail. Yet you didn’t turn to me,” says the Lord, 18 “Think back from this day, think! From the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid, and consider. 19 The seed is in the granary, but the vine and the fig tree and the pomegranate and the olive tree have not yet brought forth fruit. From this day will I bless you.” ’