1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 5 ‘This is the word I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid.

6 For this is what the LORD of hosts says: Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come. I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 9 ‘The later glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.”

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet: 11 “This is what the LORD of hosts says: Ask the priests for a ruling: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’ ” The priests answered, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean through contact with a dead body touches any of these things, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “It will become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered, “So it is with this people, and so it is with this nation before me,” declares the LORD. “So it is with all the work of their hands. What they offer there is unclean. 15 Now consider carefully, from this day back to the time before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD: 16 When someone came to a heap of about twenty bushels, there were only about ten. When someone came to the winepress to draw about fifty gallons, there were only about twenty. 17 I struck you and all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail, yet you did not turn to me,” declares the LORD. 18 “Consider carefully from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid. Consider carefully: 19 Is the seed still in the granary? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet borne fruit. From this day on I will bless.”

20 The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and say: I am shaking the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,” declares the LORD, “and make you like a signet, for I have chosen you,” declares the LORD of hosts.