1 In Dareyavesh’s (Darius) second year as king of Paras (Persia), on the 1st of the sixth month, the prophet Hagay brought Yahweh’s message to the governor of Yehudah (Judah), Zerubavel (Shealtiyel’s son), and to the high priest, Yehoshua (Joshua) (Yehotsadak’s son),[ref] telling them that 2 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says, “These people say that it’s not the right time to rebuild Yahweh’s residence.”

3 Then Yahweh gave this message to the prophet Hagay to tell the people:

4 Is it a time for all of you to live in your panelled houses, while Yahweh’s temple lies in ruins? 5 So now Commander-in-chief Yahweh says: “Decide what you’re all going to do. 6 You’ve all planted a lot, but only harvested a little. You’ve eaten, but it never fills you. You all drink, but never enough to satisfy you. You put on clothes, but never feel warm enough. You earn wages, but your pockets seem to be full of holes.”

7 So Commander-in-chief Yahweh says again: “Decide what you’re all going to do. 8 Go up into the hills and bring back timber to build the temple. This will please and honour me,” says Yahweh.

9 “You expected much, but gained little. Anything you brought home, I blew away again. Why? Commander-in-chief Yahweh says it’s because my residence is still in ruins, while you’re all busy working on your own houses. 10 That’s why the sky withholds the dew and the soil withholds its crops. 11 I’ve summoned a drought onto the land and into the hills, onto the grain and the new wine, onto the oil and crops from the ground, onto both people and livestock, and onto everything you all do.”