On the first day of the sixth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius, this message from the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Jehozadak's son Joshua, the high priest:

Then this message from the LORD came by Haggai the prophet:

When ye looked for much, then lo! it came to little, when ye brought it home, then I did blow into it, - Because of what? Demandeth Yahweh of hosts, Because of my house, the which is in ruins, while ye keep running every man to his own house.

And by my order no rain came on the land or on the mountains or the grain or the wine or the oil or the produce of the earth or on men or cattle or on any work of man's hands.

Then the LORD revitalized the spirit of Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, the spirit of Jehozadak's son Joshua the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people, so they came and began to work on the house of their God, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, this message from the LORD came by Haggai the prophet:

"My Spirit continues to dwell among you, according to the covenant I established when you came out from Egypt. Don't be afraid!'

And I shook all nations, and the desire of all nations came; and I filled this house with glory, said Jehovah of armies.

‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I shall give [the ultimate] peace and prosperity,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius, this message from the LORD came to Haggai the prophet:

When someone came to a pile of grain to get 20 measures, there were only ten. Or when someone approached the wine press to siphon out 50 measures, there were only 20.

This message from the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:

And I overturned the throne of kingdoms, and I destroyed the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I overturned the chariot and those riding it; and the horses and their horsemen came down, a man by the sword of his brother.