"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "These people keep saying, "No, the right time for rebuilding the LORD's Temple has not yet come."'"

"Now this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, says: "Carefully consider your ways:

I sent a drought on the land, on the mountains, on your grain, on your new wines, on your oil on everything the ground produces on men, on livestock, and on everything you do!'"

"Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And what does it look like now? From what you can see, it seems like nothing, doesn't it?

Now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, "and be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD. "Go to work, because I am with you,' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

"If a man carries consecrated meat in the folds of his garment, and if his garment touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other edible thing, will these things become consecrated?"'" The priests answered, "No."

Pay attention from now on to how things used to be before one stone had been laid upon another in the Temple of the LORD.

"Pay attention from now on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, when the foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid. Pay attention!

Is there seed left in the granary? Up until now, neither the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, nor the olive tree has borne fruit, but from this very day I will bless you.'"