{N}AGAINST THOSE WHO THINK ONLY OF THEIR OWN HOUSE{/}

{1}1{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first 
day of the sixth month, a word of Yahweh was directed to the 
prophet Haggai for the benefit of Zerubbabel, the son of 
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the 
high priest.
{I}2_{/}"So says Yahweh of hosts: This people claim that the time to 
rebuild the House of Yahweh has not yet come. [*]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Well now, 
hear what I have to say through the prophet Haggai: [=]_{I}4_{/}Is 
this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this 
House is a heap of ruins? {I}5_{/}Think about your ways: [=]_{I}6_{/}you 
have sown much but harvested little, you eat and drink but are not 
satisfied, you clothe yourselves but still feel cold, and the 
laborer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.
{I}7_{/}Now think about what you must do: {I}8_{/}go to the mountain and 
look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy and I 
will feel deeply honored, says Yahweh. {I}9_{/}You expected much but 
it turned out to be very little. I blew away what you had piled 
up. Why? Because my House lies in ruins while each of you goes 
running home. [=]_{I}10_{/}Therefore the heavens have withheld rain, 
and the earth has not produced anything. [=]_{I}11_{/}I sent drought 
upon the valley and the hills, upon the wheat and the vines, the 
oil and whatever the soil produces, upon people and animals, and 
upon any work of your hands."
[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Now, when Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, Joshua the 
son of Jehozadak, the high priest, {R}_{I}13_{/}and all the people heard 
these words of the prophet Haggai whom Yahweh had sent to speak to 
them, they paid attention to what Yahweh had told them and the 
people were filled with respect for God.
{R}_{I}14_{/}Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh, passed on to the 
people this word of Yahweh, "I am with you." Then Yahweh moved the 
heart of Zerubbabel, Joshua and all the people, and they began 
rebuilding the House of Yahweh of hosts, their God. {I}15_{/}It was 
the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

{1}2{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the second 
year of the reign of Darius, this word of Yahweh was sent through 
the prophet Haggai, {R}_{I}2_{/}"Give this message to Zerubbabel, the 
governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the 
people:

{N}THE GLORY OF THE NEW TEMPLE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}3_{/}Is there left among you one of those who saw this 
house long ago in the time of its glory? What do they think of 
what they see now? Is it not a very little thing? {R}_{I}4_{/}But I say 
to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua and my people: do not be discouraged. 
Begin to work, for I am with you, says Yahweh. {R}_{I}5_{/}Do not be 
afraid, for my spirit is in your midst. 
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Thus says Yahweh of hosts, within a short while I will 
shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents. 
[=]_{I}7_{/}Then I will shake all the nations and bring in the 
treasures of the whole world. I will fill this House with glory, 
says Yahweh. {I}8_{/}I will have as much silver and gold as I wish. 
[=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}The renown of this Temple will be greater than before, 
and in this place I will give peace," says Yahweh of hosts.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}10_{/}On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the 
second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh was directed again to 
the prophet Haggai. {R}_{I}11_{/}He should ask the priests to resolve the 
following case in accordance with the Law: {I}12_{/}"If someone brings 
consecrated meat wrapped in his cloak, and the edge of his cloak 
touches bread, cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will all 
these become consecrated food?" They immediately answered, "No."
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Haggai went on to say, "But if someone becomes unclean 
by having touched a dead body, and then touches any of these 
things, will all these become unclean?" This time the priests 
said, "Yes."
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Then Haggai addressed them, "So it is with this people 
and this nation before me, says Yahweh, so with everything they do 
and all they offer here: all is unclean.
{R}_{I}15_{/}Pay attention to this from now on: how was it with you 
before the rebuilding of the Temple was begun? {I}16_{/}You expected 
twenty sacks of wheat, but there were only ten. You thought of 
drawing out fifty measures of wine but there were only twenty. 
[=]_{I}17_{/}I spoiled all your work with blight, mildew and hail. Yet 
none returned to me, says the Lord. 
{I}18_{/}Pay attention, then, from now on, since the first stone of 
the Sanctuary of Yahweh was laid. {I}19_{/}See if the wheat, the vine, 
the fig tree and the pomegranate go on yielding little! From this 
day on I will bless your olive trees."

{N}PROMISES TO ZERUBBABEL{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}20_{/}The word of Yahweh came again to Haggai on the twenty-
fourth day of the same month, {R}_{I}21_{/}"Say to Zerubbabel, the 
governor of Judah: {R}_{I}22_{/}I will overthrow the thrones of the kings 
and destroy the power of the nations. I will overturn the chariot 
and its driver; the horses and their riders shall tumble down to 
the ground. They will kill one another. {R}_{I}23_{/}On that day I will 
take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, and for me 
you will be like a ring on my finger with my initials on it. For I 
have chosen you, says Yahweh of hosts."

