Haggai 2

1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of יהוה by the prophet Chaggai, saying:

2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah (Yehudah), and to Joshua (Yehoshua) the son of Yehotsadaq, the high kohen, and to the residue of the people, saying:

3 “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4 ‘Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ saith יהוה; ‘and be strong, O Joshua (Yehoshua), son of Yehotsadaq, the high kohen; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ saith יהוה, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot):

5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), so My Spirit remaineth among you; fear you not!’

6 For thus saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot): “Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 ‘And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).

8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).

9 ‘The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot); ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).”

10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of יהוה by Chaggai the prophet, saying,

11 “Thus saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot): ‘Ask now the kohanim concerning the Torah, saying,

12 “If one bear holy flesh in the edge of his garment, and with his edge do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy?”’” And the kohanim answered and said, “No.”

13 Then said Chaggai, “If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?” And the kohanim answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”

14 Then answered Chaggai, and said, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ saith יהוה; ‘and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of יהוה;

16 Since those days were, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but

ten; when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.

17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet you turned not to Me,’ saith יהוה.

18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of יהוה’s temple was laid, consider it:

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.’”

20 And again the word of יהוה came unto Chaggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying:

21 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah (Yehudah), saying: ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

23 ‘In that day,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot), ‘will I take you, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ saith יהוה, ‘and will make you as a signet; for I have chosen you,’ saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).”