Hag 2 | LEB | STEP | In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh ⌞came through⌟ Haggai the prophet, saying,

‏ Haggai 2

A Promise to Rebuild

1 In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh ⌞came through⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “came through the hand of”} Haggai the prophet, saying, 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 3 ‘Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing ⌞to you⌟? ^{▼▼Literally “in your eyes”} 4 ‘But now take courage, ^{▼▼Or “be strong”} Zerubbabel,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh. ‘Take courage, ^{▼▼Or “Be strong”} Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and take courage, ^{▼▼Or “be strong”} all the people of the land,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh. ‘Do the work, because I am with you,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh of hosts, 5 ‘according to ⌞the promise⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “the word”} that ⌞I covenanted⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “I cut”} with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit ⌞is with you⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “is standing in your midst”} do not be afraid.’ 6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house ^{▼▼That is, the temple} with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh of hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh of hosts.’ ”

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Haggai, saying, 11 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling: ^{▼▼Or “a torah,” or “a law”} 12 If a man carries ^{▼▼Literally “lifts”} consecrated meat in the hem of his garment, and his hem touches bread, or stew, or wine, or olive oil, or any kind of food, will it become holy?’ ” The priests answered, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from contact with a corpse touches any of these, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it will be become unclean.” 14 And Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So it is with this people, and with this nation before me,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh, ‘and so it is with every kind of work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. 15 But now, please ⌞consider⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “set your heart”} from this day forward, before one stone was placed on another in the temple of Yahweh, 16 ⌞from that time when⌟ ^{▼▼Or “from their being,” or “from the time they were then”} one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten, and when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures, ^{▼▼Hebrew “measure”} there were only twenty. 17 I struck you with blight, and with plant mildew, and hail, all the work of your hands. But ⌞you did not come back to me⌟,’ ^{▼▼Literally “there were none of you to me”} ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh. 18 ‘⌞Please consider⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “Please set your heart”} from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, ^{▼▼Or “placed,” or “set”} ⌞consider⌟: ^{▼▼Literally “set your heart”} 19 Is there still seed in the store chamber? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still produce nothing? From this day forward I will bless you.’ ”

The Coming Kingdom

20 And the word of Yahweh came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month saying, 21 “Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the military strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, every one by the sword of another! 23 ‘On that day,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh, ‘and I will make you a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ ⌞declares⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “a declaration of”} Yahweh of hosts.”