Haggai

Haggai, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

The Glory to Come

   1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the LORD spoke again through the prophet Haggai: 2 "Ask the following questions to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the remnant of the people: 3 'Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? How does it look to you now? Isn't it nothing by comparison? 4 Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD. 'Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you citizens of the land,' says the LORD, 'and begin to work. For I am with you,' says the LORD who rules over all. 5 'Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit even now testifies to you.' 6 Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says: 'In just a little while I will once again shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry ground. 7 I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD who rules over all. 8 'The silver and gold will be mine,' says the LORD who rules over all. 9 'The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times, ' the LORD who rules over all declares, 'and in this place I will give peace.'"

The Promised Blessing

   10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of Darius' second year, the LORD spoke again to the prophet Haggai: 11 "The LORD who rules over all says, 'Ask the priests about the law. 12 If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?'" The priests answered, "It will not." 13 Then Haggai asked, "If a person who is ritually unclean because of touching a dead body comes in contact with one of these items, will it become unclean?" The priests answered, "It will be unclean."
   14 Then Haggai responded, "'The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,' says the LORD. 'And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean. 15 Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past, before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple. 16 From that time when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the products of your labor with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,' says the LORD. 18 'Think carefully about the past: from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, to the day work on the temple of the LORD was resumed, think about it. 19 The seed is still in the storehouse, isn't it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.'"

Zerubbabel the Chosen One

   20 Then the LORD spoke again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah: 'I am ready to shake the sky and the earth. 22 I will overthrow royal thrones and shatter the might of earthly kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and those who ride them, and horses and their riders will fall as people kill one another. 23 On that day,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,' says the LORD, 'and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,' says the LORD who rules over all."

King James Version

   1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, 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 residue of the people, saying,
   3 Who 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?
   4 Yet 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:
   5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
   6 For 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;
   7 And 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.
   8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
   9 The 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.
   10 ¶ In 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,
   11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
   12 If 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.
   13 Then 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.
   14 Then 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.
   15 And 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:
   16 Since 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.
   17 I 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.
   18 Consider 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.
   19 Is 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.
   20 ¶ And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth 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 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.
   23 In 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.