1. In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
2. “The Lord of Hosts says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”
3. The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet:
4. “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? ”
5. Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways:
6. You have planted muchbut harvested little.You eatbut never have enough to be satisfied.You drinkbut never have enough to become drunk.You put on clothesbut never have enough to get warm.The wage earner puts his wagesinto a bag with a hole in it.”
7. The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways.
8. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord.
9. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why? ” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
10. So on your account, the skies have withheld the dewand the land its crops.
11. I have summoned a droughton the fields and the hills,on the grain, new wine, olive oil,and whatever the ground yields,on man and beast,and on all that your hands produce.”