Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The LORD's word came through Haggai the prophet in the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month on the first day of the month, to Judah's governor Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son, and to the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak's son:
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On the first day of the sixth month in Darius' second year as king, the LORD spoke his word through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah) and to the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak). He said,
2 This is what the LORD of heavenly forces says: These people say, "The time hasn't come, the time to rebuild the LORD's house."
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"This is what the LORD of Armies says: These people say it's not the right time to rebuild the house of the LORD."
3 Then the LORD's word came through Haggai the prophet:
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Then the LORD spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said,
4 Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?
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"Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?
5 So now, this is what the LORD of heavenly forces says: Take your ways to heart.
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Now, this is what the LORD of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways!
6 You have sown much, but it has brought little. You eat, but there's not enough to satisfy. You drink, but not enough to get drunk. There is clothing, but not enough to keep warm. Anyone earning wages puts those wages into a bag with holes.
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You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you're never full. You drink, but you're still thirsty. You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it.
7 This is what the LORD of heavenly forces says: Take your ways to heart.
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This is what the LORD of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways!
8 Go up to the highlands and bring back wood. Rebuild the temple so that I may enjoy it and that I may be honored, says the LORD.
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"Go to the mountains, get lumber, and build the house. I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored," declares the LORD.
9 You expect a surplus, but look how it shrinks. You bring it home, and I blow it away, says the LORD of heavenly forces, because my house lies in ruins. But all of you hurry to your own houses.
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"You expected a lot, but you received a little. When you bring something home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of Armies. "It's because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy working on your own house.
10 Therefore, the skies above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce because of you.
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It is because of you that the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce.
11 I have called for drought on the earth, on the mountains, on the grain, on the wine, on the olive oil, on that which comes forth from the fertile ground, on humanity, on beasts, and upon everything that handles produce.
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I called for a drought on the land, the hills, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and whatever the ground produces, on humans and animals, and on all your hard work."
12 Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son, and the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak's son, along with all who remained among the people, listened to the voice of the LORD God and to the words of Haggai the prophet because the LORD their God sent him. Then the people feared the LORD.
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Then Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon obeyed the LORD their God. They also obeyed the words of the prophet Haggai because the LORD their God had sent him and because the people feared the LORD.
13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave the LORD's message to the people: I am with you, says the LORD.
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Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD who had received the LORD's message, said to the people, "I am with you, declares the LORD."
14 The LORD moved the spirit of Judah's governor Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua, Jehozadak's son, and the spirit of all the rest of the people. Then they came and did work on the house of the LORD of heavenly forces, their God,
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The LORD inspired them [to rebuild his house]. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of the LORD of Armies, their God.
15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.
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They began on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in Darius' second year as king.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.