Haggai 1

1In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, this word of GOD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

2Thus said GOD of Hosts: These people say, “The time has not yet come for rebuilding the House of GOD.”

3And the word of GOD through the prophet Haggai continued:

4Is it a time for you to dwell in your paneled houses, while this House is lying in ruins?

5Now thus said GOD of Hosts: Consider how you have been faring!

6You have sowed much and brought in little; you eat without being satisfied; you drink without getting your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one gets warm; and he who earns anything earns it for a leaky purse.

7Thus said GOD of Hosts: Consider how you have fared:

8Go up to the hills and get timber, and rebuild the House; then I will look on it with favor and I will be glorified—said GOD.

9You have been expecting much and getting little; and when you brought it home, I would blow on it! Because of what?—says GOD of Hosts. Because of My House that lies in ruins, while you all hurry to your own houses!

10That is why the skies above you have withheld [their] moisture and the earth has withheld its yield,

11and I have summoned fierce heat upon the land—upon the hills, upon the new grain and wine and oil, upon all that the ground produces, upon human and animal, and upon all the fruits of labor.

12Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the rest of the people gave heed to the summons of the ETERNAL their God and to the words of the prophet Haggai, when the ETERNAL their God sent him; the people feared GOD.

13And Haggai, GOD’s messenger, fulfilling GOD’s mission, spoke to the people, “I am with you—declares GOD.”

14Then GOD roused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: They came and set to work on the House of GOD of Hosts, their God,

15on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. In the second year of King Darius,