Haggai Begins Temple Building
1 In the second year ofDarius the king [of Persia], on the first day of the sixth month (Aug 29, 520b.c.), the word of the Lordcame by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
2 “Thus says the Lordof hosts: ‘These people say, “The time has not come that the Lord’shouse (temple) should berebuilt.”’”
3 Then the word of the Lordcame by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your [expensive] paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?”
5 Now therefore, thus says the Lordof hosts, “Consider your waysandthoughtfully reflect on your conduct!
6 You have planted much, but you harvest little; you eat, but you do not haveenough;you drink, but you do not haveenoughto be intoxicated; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warmenough;and he who earns wages earns themjust to putthem in a bag with holes in it [because God has withheld His blessing].”
7 Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Consider your waysandthoughtfully reflect on your conduct!
8 Go up to the hill country, bring lumber and rebuild My house (temple), that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord[accepting it as done for My glory].
9 You look for much [harvest], but it comes to little; and even when you bring that home, I blow itaway. Why?” says the Lordof hosts. “Because of My house, which lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house [eager to enjoy it].
10 Therefore, because of you [that is, your sin and disobedience] the heavens withhold the dew and the earth withholds its produce.
11 I called for a drought on the land and the hill country, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people [who had returned from exile], listened carefullyandobeyed the voice of the Lordtheir God and the words of Haggai the prophet, since the Lordtheir God had sent him. And the people [reverently] feared the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the Lord’smessenger, spoke the Lord’smessage to the people saying, “ ‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.”
14 So the Lordstirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lordof hosts, their God,
15 on thetwenty-fourth day of the sixth month (Sept 21, 520b.c.) in the second year of Darius the king.