1 ¶ In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? how does it look to you now? doesn’t it seem like nothing in comparison?

4 Yet now have courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and have courage, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and have courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:

5 According to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, my spirit remains among you: do not be afraid.

6 For the LORD of hosts says this; Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come: and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.

9 The final glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place I will give peace, says 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 by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11 The LORD of hosts says this; Ask the priests this question concerning the law,

12 If a man carries holy meat in the skirt of his robe, and his skirt touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any meat, will it be holy? And the priests answered saying, No.

13 Then Haggai asked, If one who is unclean by touching a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean? And the priests answered saying, It will be unclean.

14 Then Haggai replied, saying, In the same way this people, and this nation is unclean before me, says the LORD; as is every thing they do; and all that they offer.

15 And now, I pray you, think back from this day, to the time before one stone was laid upon another in the temple of the LORD:

16 Since that time, whenever one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: whenever one came to a wine vat to draw fifty measures from the vat, there were but twenty.

17 I struck all that you labored for with blight, mildew and hail; yet you did not turn to me, says the LORD.

18 Consider carefully what happened after the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, think about it.

19 Is there still grain in the barn? Yes! As to the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, they have not brought forth yet: but from this day on I will bless you.

20 ¶ And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 And I will overturn royal thrones, and I will destroy the strength of the heathen nations; and I will overturn chariots, and those who ride in them; and the horsemen will cut each other down with the sword.

23 At that time, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you like a signet ring: for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.