“The Lord of Hosts says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”

“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”

Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways:

The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways.

“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.

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing to you?

“This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and My Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.”

For the Lord of Hosts says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.

I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Hosts.

“The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Hosts. “I will provide peace in this place”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

“This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Ask the priests for a ruling.

Then Haggai replied, “So is this people, and so is this nation before Me”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled.

“Now, reflect back from this day: Before one stone was placed on another in the Lord’s temple,

“Consider carefully from this day forward; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid; consider it carefully.

Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. But from this day on I will bless you.”

On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.