Haggai

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, this word of GOD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

Thus said GOD of Hosts: These people say, “The time has not yet comeaThe time has not yet come Lit. “It is not time for the coming of the time.” for rebuilding the House of GOD.”

And the word of GOD through the prophet Haggai continued:

Is it a time for you to dwell in your paneled houses, while this House is lying in ruins?

Now thus said GOD of Hosts: Consider how you have been faring!

You have sowed much and brought in little; you eat without being satisfied; you drink without getting your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one gets warm; and he who earns anything earns it for a leaky purse.

bThis verse and the next would read well after v. 11. Thus said GOD of Hosts: Consider how you have fared:

Go up to the hills and get timber, and rebuild the House; then I will look on it with favor and I will be glorifiedcbe glorified Emendation yields “glorify it”; see 2.7–9.—said GOD.

You have been expecting much and getting little; and when you brought it home, I would blow on it!dblow on it Meaning, perhaps, cast a curse on it. Because of what?—says GOD of Hosts. Because of My House that lies in ruins, while you all hurry to your own houses!

That is why the skies above you have withheld [their] moisture and the earth has withheld its yield,

and I have summoned fierce heat upon the land—upon the hills, upon the new grain and wine and oil, upon all that the ground produces, upon human and animal, and upon all the fruits of labor.

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the rest of the people gave heed to the summons of the ETERNAL their God and to the words of the prophet Haggai, when the ETERNAL their God sent him; the people feared GOD.

And Haggai, GOD’s messenger, fulfilling GOD’s mission, spoke to the people, “I am with you—declares GOD.”

Then GOD roused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: They came and set to work on the House of GOD of Hosts, their God,

on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. In the second year of King Darius,