1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “This is what the LORD of hosts says: This people says, ‘The time has not come—the time for the LORD’s house to be rebuilt.’ ”

3 Then the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet: 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now this is what the LORD of hosts says: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much but brought in little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but do not become drunk. You put on clothes but are not warm. Those who earn wages put their wages into a bag full of holes.

7 This is what the LORD of hosts says: Consider your ways. 8 Go up the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD. 9 “You looked for much, but it came to little. When you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” declares the LORD of hosts. “Because my house lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you, the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, and the oil, on whatever the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s message to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD. 14 The LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.