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¹ In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the Word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ² "Speak now to Zerubbavel, the son of She'alti'el, governor of Yehudah, and to Yehoshua, the son of Yehotzadak, the Kohen Gadol, and to the remnant of the people, saying, ³ 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes as nothing? ⁴ Yet now be strong, Zerubbavel,' says the LORD. 'Be strong, Yehoshua, son of Yehotzadak, the Kohen Gadol. Be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD, 'and work, for I am with you,' says the LORD of Hosts. ⁵ This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Mitzrayim, and my Spirit lived among you. Don't be afraid.' ⁶ For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the eretz, the sea, and the dry land; ⁷ and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts. ⁸ The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' says the LORD of Hosts. ⁹ 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of Hosts; 'and in this place will I give shalom,' says the LORD of Hosts."

¹⁰ In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Daryavesh, the Word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ¹¹ "Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Ask now the Kohanim concerning the law, saying, ¹² 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The Kohanim answered, "No." ¹³ Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The Kohanim answered, "It will be unclean." ¹⁴ Then Haggai answered, "'So is this people, and so is this nation before me,' says the LORD; 'and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean. ¹⁵ Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the temple of the LORD. ¹⁶ Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. ¹⁷ I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn't turn to me,' says the LORD. ¹⁸ 'Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it. ¹⁹ Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you.'"

²⁰ The Word of the LORD came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, ²¹ "Speak to Zerubbavel, governor of Yehudah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the eretz. ²² I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. ²³ In that day, says the LORD of Hosts, will I take you, Zerubbavel, my servant, the son of She'alti'el,' says the LORD, 'and will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you,' says the LORD of Hosts."