Open English Translation HAG Chapter 2

2 On the 21st of the seventh month (about a month later), Yahweh spoke again through the prophet Hagay: 2 Please ask Shealtiyel’s son Zerubavel, the governor of Yehudah (Judah), and ask Yehotsadak’s son Yehoshua (Joshua), the high priest, and ask the rest of the people, 3 “Are there any of you still alive who saw the splendour of the former temple? How does it look to you now? It must now seem pretty much like nothing in comparison.[ref] 4 Yahweh is telling you now, Zerubavel, to be strong. And be strong, high priest Yehoshua, and be strong all you people of the land. Commander-in-chief Yahweh declares that I’m with you as you work. 5 That’s what I promised your ancestors when they came out of Mitsrayim (Egypt), and my spirit remains among you.[ref] Don’t be afraid, 6 because Commander-in-chief Yahweh says that in a little while, I’ll shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land, once more.[ref] 7 I’ll shake all the nations, and they’ll come here bringing their treasure. Then I’ll fill this temple with my splendour, says Commander-in-chief Yahweh. 8 ⇔Commander-in-chief Yahweh declares that the gold and silver belong to me. 9 I declare that this temple will be greater in the future than it was in the past, and also that I will give peace and prosperity to this place.”

10 On the 24th of the ninth month in King Dareyavesh’s (Darius) second year (about two months later), Yahweh gave a message to the prophet Hagay: 11 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says, “Ask the priests about Mosheh’s (Moses) instructions. 12 ‘If a priest took some meat that had been offered to God and carried it wrapped in a piece of clothing, then if the clothing touched some other food, would that other food become holy?’ ”

“No, it wouldn’t,” the priests replied.

13 Then Hagay asked, “But if a person became unclean by touching a corpse and then touched any of that food, would it become unclean?”

“Yes, it would become unclean,”[ref] the priests answered.

14 “That’s what Yahweh declares about you people,” Hagay continued. “He says that that’s how this country acts towards him. Your actions are dishonourable, and then that same disrespect transfers to your offerings. 15 So now think back to before stones were being laid for Yahweh’s temple. 16 During that time, when someone went to get twenty containers of grain, there were only ten there, and when someone went to fill fifty jars of wine from the vat, there was only enough for twenty. 17 Yahweh declares that he caused blight and mildew and hail to affect your work, but you still didn’t turn to him. 18 Think back to the time from when the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, until today (this 24th of the ninth month). Consider that. 19 Is any grain left in the storehouse for seed? What’s more, the vines, and the fig trees and pomegranate trees and olive trees, haven’t produced fruit. However, Yahweh will bless you from today onwards.”

20 Then Yahweh gave a second message to Hagay on the 24th: 21 Tell Zerubavel, the governor of Yehudah (Judah), “I’m about to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I’ll overthrow the thrones of kingdoms, and destroy the strength of the nations. I’ll overthrow chariots and riders—horses and their riders will fall and related tribes will kill each other. 23 Commander-in-chief Yahweh declares that on that day he will take Shealtiyel’s son Zerubavel and cause him to place Yahweh’s mark on the nation like a signet ring, because he’s been chosen.”