Study Desk

The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.

This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts.

Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: 'I am it, and there is none besides me,' what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

I said, 'Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.' Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation, all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you transgress against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.

Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth.

At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD.

"Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?"

But now take courage, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Ask the priests for a ruling.

For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying:

On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts."

Then the angel who was speaking with me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have increased the calamity.'