Haggai 2
The prophet Haggai urges Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people to be strong and work on rebuilding the temple, as God is with them and will fill the house with glory. God promises that the latter house will be greater than the former and will bring peace. Haggai also addresses the issue of ritual purity, pointing out that the people's uncleanness has affected their offerings. God then promises to bless the people from the day the temple's foundation was laid, and to overthrow the kingdoms of the heathen, making Zerubbabel a signet, or symbol, of God's chosen servant.
1In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,2Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,3Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.6For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.9The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.10In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,11Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.14Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.15And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:16Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.17I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.18Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it.19Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.20And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,21Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;22And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.23In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
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