A Call to Rebuild Yhwh ’s House
1 On the first day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king, Yhwh spoke his word through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah) and to the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak). He said, 2 “This is what Yhwh of armies says: These people say it’s not the right time to rebuild the house of Yhwh.”
3 Then Yhwh spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 4 “Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, this is what Yhwh of armies says: Carefully consider your ways! 6 You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty. (Or “You have ⌞wine⌟ to drink but not enough to become drunk.”) You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. 7 This is what Yhwh of armies says: Carefully consider your ways!
8 “Go to the mountains, get lumber, and build the house. I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored,” declares Yhwh.
9 “You expected a lot, but you received a little. When you bring something home, I blow it away. Why?” declares Yhwh of armies. “It’s because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy working on your own house. 10 It is because of you that the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 I called for a drought on the land, the hills, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and whatever the ground produces, on humans and animals, and on all your hard work.”
The Work on the House Resumes
12 Then Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon obeyed Yhwh their elohim. They also obeyed the words of the prophet Haggai because Yhwh their elohim had sent him and because the people feared Yhwh.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of Yhwh who had received Yhwh’s message, said to the people, “I am with you, declares Yhwh.”
14 Yhwh inspired them ⌞to rebuild his house⌟. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of Yhwh of armies, their elohim. 15 They began on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king.
Haggai 2
The New House Will Be Greater Than the Old One
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, Yhwh spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, 2 “Now, speak to Zerubbabel (who is the son of Shealtiel and is governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who is the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon. 3 Ask them, ‘Is there anyone among the faithful few who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing to you?’
4 “But now, Zerubbabel, be strong,” declares Yhwh. “Chief Priest Joshua (son of Jehozadak), be strong. Everyone in the land, be strong,” declares Yhwh. “Work, because I am with you,” declares Yhwh of armies. 5 “This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains with you. Don’t be afraid.
6 “This is what Yhwh of armies says: Once again, in a little while, I am going to shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the one whom all the nations desire will come. Then I will fill this house with glory, says Yhwh of armies. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares Yhwh of armies. 9 This new house will be more glorious than the former, declares Yhwh of armies. And in this place I will give ⌞them⌟ peace, declares Yhwh of armies.”
Though the People Are Sinful, Yhwh Will Bless Them
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in Darius’ second year as king, Yhwh spoke his word to the prophet Haggai. He said, 11 “This is what Yhwh of armies says: Ask the priests for a decision. 12 Suppose a person carries meat set aside for a holy purpose and he folds it up in his clothes. If his clothes touch bread, boiled food, wine, oil, or any kind of food, does that make the food holy?”
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Haggai asked, “Suppose a person becomes unclean (“Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to elohim.) by touching a corpse. If he touches any of these things, does that make them unclean?”
The priests answered, “That makes them unclean.”
14 Then Haggai answered, “In the same way, I have decided that these people are unclean, and so is this nation, declares Yhwh. So is everything they do. Whatever offering they bring is unclean.
15 “And from now on, carefully consider this. Consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the temple of Yhwh. 16 When anyone came to a pile of grain ⌞to get⌟ 20 measures, there would be only 10. And when anyone came to a wine vat to draw out 50 measures, there would be only 20 in it. 17 I infested all your work with blight and mildew and struck it with hail. But you didn’t come back to me, declares Yhwh. 18 Carefully consider from now on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the house of Yhwh was laid. Carefully consider: 19 Is there any seed left in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still haven’t produced. But from now on I will bless you.”
A Promise to Zerubbabel
20 Yhwh spoke his word to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month. He said, 21 “Say to Zerubbabel (governor of Judah), ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of nations. I will overthrow chariots and their riders, and the horses will fall along with their riders. They will kill one another with swords. 23 On that day, declares Yhwh of armies, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), declares Yhwh. I will make you like a signet ring, because I have chosen you, declares Yhwh of armies.’ ”