14
Then Haggai answered and said,
1"So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.
15
Now then,
2consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD,
16
how did you fare?
3When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17
4I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail,
5yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD.
18
6Consider from this day onward,
7from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since
8the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid,
9consider:
19
10Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on
11I will bless you."
Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet
20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai
12on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
21
"Speak to
13Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying,
14I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
22
and
15to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and
16overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down,
17every one by the sword of his brother.
23
On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O
18Zerubbabel
19my servant, the son of
20Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you
21like a signet ring,
22for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts."