But shall not all these take up a proverb against him, and mock him with a byword, and say, "Woe unto him that heapeth up other men's goods: How long will he lade himself with thick clay?"

O how suddenly will they stand up, that shall bite thee, and awake, that shall tear thee in pieces? Yea, thou shalt be their prey.

Seeing thou hast spoiled many Heathen, therefore shall the remnant of the people spoil thee: because of men's blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city and unto all them that dwell therein.

Woe unto him, that covetously gathereth evil gotten goods into his house: that he may set his nest on high, to escape from the power of misfortune.

so that the very stones of the wall shall cry out of it, and the timber that lieth betwixt the joints of the building shall answer.

Woe unto him, that buildeth the town with blood, and maintaineth the city with unrighteousness.

Shall not the LORD of Hosts bring this to pass, that the laborers of the people shall be burnt with a great fire, and that the thing whereupon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost?

For the earth shall be full of knowledge of the LORD's honour, like as the waters that cover the sea.

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, to get him wrathful displeasure for his drunkenness: that he may see his privities.

For the wrong that thou hast done in Lebanon shall overwhelm thee, and the wild beasts shall make thee afraid: because of men's blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city, and to all such as dwell therein.

Woe unto him, that sayeth unto a piece of wood, "Arise," and to a dumb stone, "Stand up." For what instruction may such one give? Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath in it.

I saw, that the pavilions of the Ethiopians and the tents of the land of Midian were vexed for weariness.

When I hear this, my body is vexed, my lips tremble at the voice thereof, my bones corrupt, I am afraid where I stand. O that I might rest in the day of trouble, that I might go up unto our people, which are already prepared.

In the same day also will I visit all those that tread over the threshold so proudly, which fill their lords' house with robbery and falsity.

Howl, ye that dwell in the mill! For all the merchant people are gone, and all they that were laden with silver, are rooted out.

At the same time will I seek through Jerusalem with lanterns, and visit them that continue in their dregs, and say in their hearts, "Tush, the LORD will do neither good nor evil."

For that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heaviness, a day of utter destruction and misery, a dark and gloomy day, a cloudy and stormy day,

I will bring the people to such vexation, that they shall go about like blind men; because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood shall be shed as the dust, and their bodies as the mire.

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in that wrathful day of the LORD, but the whole land shall be consumed through the fire of his jealousy: for he shall soon make clean riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Before the thing go forth that is concluded; and before the time be passed away as the dust, or the fearful wrath of the LORD come upon you.

Yea, or the day of the LORD's sore displeasure come upon you. Seek the LORD, all ye meek hearted upon earth, ye that work after his judgment: seek righteousness, seek lowliness, that ye may be defended in the wrathful day of the LORD.

Woe unto you that dwell upon the sea coast, ye murderous people: the word of the LORD shall come upon you. O Canaan, thou land of the Philistines, I will destroy thee so that there shall no man dwell in thee any more.

This is the proud and careless city, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is else none." O how is she made so waste, that the beasts lie therein? Whoso goeth by, mocketh her, and pointeth at her with his finger.

But the just LORD that doth no unright, was among them, every morning showing them his law clearly, and ceased not. But the ungodly will not learn to be ashamed.

Therefore will I root out this people, and destroy their towers: yea, and make their streets so void, that no man shall go therein. Their cities shall be broken down, so that no body shall be left, nor dwell there any more.

I said unto them, "O fear me, and be content to be reformed." That their dwelling should not be destroyed, and that there should happen unto them none of these things, wherewith I shall visit them. But nevertheless they stand up early, to follow the filthiness of their own imaginations.

Therefore ye shall wait upon me, sayeth the LORD, until the time that I stand up: for I am determined, to gather the people and to bring the kingdoms together, that I may pour out mine anger, yea all my wrathful displeasure upon them. For all the world shall be consumed with the fire of my jealousy.

And then will I cleanse the lips of the people, that they may every each one call upon the name of the LORD, and serve him with one shoulder.

In that time shalt thou no more be confounded, because of all thy imaginations, wherethrough thou hadst offended me: for I will take away the proud boasters of thine honour from thee, so that thou shalt no more triumph because of my holy hill.

For the LORD hath taken away thy punishment, and turned back thine enemies. The king of Israel, even the LORD himself is with thee: so that thou needest no more to fear any misfortune.

In that time it shall be said unto Jerusalem, "Fear not," and to Zion, "Let not thine hands be slack,

for the LORD thy God is with thee. It is he that hath power to save: he hath a special pleasure in thee, and a marvelous love toward thee: yea he rejoiceth over thee with gladness."

Such as have been in heaviness, will I gather together, and take out of thy congregation: as for the shame and reproof that hath been laid upon thee, it shall be far from thee.

And lo, in that time will I destroy all those that vex thee: I will help the lame, and gather up the cast away: yea, I will get them honour and praise in all lands, where they have been put to shame.

Ye sow much, but ye bring little in; Ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled; ye deck yourselves, but ye are not warm; and he that earneth any wage, putteth it in a broken purse.

get you up to the mountain, fetch wood, and build up the house: that it may be acceptable unto me, and that I may show mine honour, sayeth the LORD.

Ye looked for much, and lo it is come to little: and though ye bring it home, yet do I blow it away. And why so, sayeth the LORD of Hosts? Even because that my house lieth so waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

I have called for a drought, both upon the land and upon the mountains, upon corn, upon wine, and upon oil, upon everything that the ground bringeth forth, upon men and upon cattle, yea and upon all handy labour."

So the LORD waked up the spirit of Zerubbabel the prince of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jozadak the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people: that they came and laboured, in the house of the LORD of Hosts their God.

'Who is left among you, that saw this house in her first beauty? But what think ye now by it? Is it not in your eyes, even as though it were nothing?

The Priests gave answer and said, "Yea, it shall be unclean." Then Haggai answered, and said, "Even so is this people and this nation before me, sayeth the LORD: and so are all the works of their hands, yea and all that they offer, is unclean.

that when ye came to a corn heap of twenty bushels, there were scarce ten: and that when ye came to the wine press for to pour out fifty pots of wine, there were scarce twenty.

For I smote you with heat, blasting and hailstones in all the labors of your hands: yet was there none of you, that would turn unto me, sayeth the LORD.

Consider then from this day forth and afore, namely, from the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, unto the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid: Mark it well,

and overthrow the seat of the kingdoms, yea and destroy the mighty kingdom of the Heathen. I will overthrow the chariots, and those that sit upon then, so that both horse and man shall fall down, every man through his neighbour's sword.

"I saw by night, and lo, there sat one upon a red horse, and stood still among the Myrtle trees, that were beneath upon the ground: and behind him were there red, speckled and white horses.

Then said I, 'O my lord, what are these?' And the angel that talked with me, said unto me, 'I will show thee what these be.'

And the man that stood among the Myrtle trees, answered and said, 'These are they, whom the LORD hath sent to go through the world.'

And they answered the angel of the LORD, that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, 'We have gone through the world: and behold all the world dwell at ease, and are careless.'

So the LORD gave a loving and comfortable answer unto the angel that talked with me.

And the angel that communed with me, said unto me, 'Cry thou, and speak, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: I am exceedingly jealous over Jerusalem and Zion,

and sore displeased at the careless Heathen: for whereas I was but a little angry, they did their best that I might destroy them.

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: I will turn me again in mercy toward Jerusalem, so that my house shall be builded in it, sayeth the LORD of Hosts: yea and the plummet shall be laid abroad in Jerusalem, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.'

And I said unto the angel, that talketh with me, 'What be these?' He answered me, 'These are the horses, which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem abroad.'

Then said I, 'What will these do?' He answered, and said, 'Those are the horns, which have so strawed Judah abroad, that no man durst lift up his head: But these are come to fray them away, and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lift up their horn over the land of Judah, to scatter it abroad.'

Then said I, 'Whither goest thou?' And he said unto me, 'To measure Jerusalem, that I may see how long and how broad it is.'

And behold, the angel that talked with me, went his way forth. Then went there out another angel to meet him,

and said unto him, 'Run, speak to this young man, and say: Jerusalem shall be inhabited without any wall, for the very multitude of people and cattle, that shall be therein:

Save thy self, O Zion, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Behold, I will lift up mine hand over them: so that they shall be spoiled of those which afore served them: and ye shall know, that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me.

And many nations shall cleave unto the LORD at that day and shall be my people. And I will dwell in the middle of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD Sabaoth hath sent me unto thee.

And the LORD said unto Satan, 'The LORD reprove thee, thou Satan; yea, the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem, reprove thee. Is not this a brand taken out of the fire?'

Which answered and said unto those that stood before him, 'Take away the foul clothes from him.' And unto him he said, 'Behold, I have taken away thy sin from thee, and will deck thee with change of raiment.'

'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my watch: thou shalt rule my house, and keep my courts, and I will give thee place among these that stand here.

"'Hear O Joshua thou high priest: thou and thy friends that dwell before thee, for they are wondrous people. Behold, I will bring forth the branch of my servant:

for lo, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: upon one stone shall be seven eyes. Behold, I will hew him out, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, and take away the sin of that land in one day.

And the angel that talked with me, came again; and waked me up, as a man that is raised out of his sleep,

So I answered, and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, 'O my lord what are these?'

The angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, 'Knowest thou not what these be?' And I said, 'No, my lord.'

What art thou, thou great mountain, before Zerubbabel? Thou must be made even. And he shall bring up the first stone so that men shall cry unto him, 'Good luck, good luck!''

'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands also shall finish it: that ye may know, how that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me unto you.

For he that hath been despised a little season, shall rejoice, when he seeth the tin weight in Zerubbabel's hand. The seven eyes are the LORD's, which go through the whole world.'

Then said he, 'These are the two olive branches that stand before the ruler of the whole earth.'

Then said he unto me, 'This is the curse, that goeth forth over the whole earth: for all thieves shall be judged after this book, and all swearers shall be judged according to the same.

I will bring it forth, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, so that it shall come to the house of the thief, and to the house of him, that falsely sweareth by my name: and shall remain in his house, and consume it, with the timber and stones thereof.'

Then the angel that talked with me, went forth, and said unto me, 'Lift up thine eyes and see what this is that goeth forth.'

And I said, 'What is it?' He answered, 'This is a measure going out.' He said moreover, 'Even thus are they that dwell upon the whole earth to look upon.'

Then spake I to the angel that talked with me, 'Whither will these bear the measure?'

Then spake I and said unto the angel that talked with me, 'O lord, what are these?'

That with the black horses went in to the land of the north, and the white followed them, and the speckled horses went forth toward the south.

Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, 'Behold, these that go toward the north, shall still my wrath in the north country.'

'Take of the prisoners that are come from Babylon: namely, Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah: and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.

And speak unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: Behold the man whose name is the branch: and he that shall spring up after him, shall build up the temple of the LORD.

that ye may know, how that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God.''

It happened also in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, which is called Chislev.

What time as Sharezer and Regemmelech and the men that were with them, sent unto Bethel for to pray before the LORD:

and that they should say unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of Hosts, and to the prophets, "Should I weep in the fifth month, and abstain, as I have done now certain years?"

Nevertheless, they would not take heed, but turned their backs and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

And thus is it come to pass, that like as he spake and they would not hear: "Even so, they cried and I would not hear, sayeth the LORD of Hosts,

but scattered them among all Gentiles, whom they knew not. Thus the land was made so desolate, that there traveled no man in it neither to nor fro, for that pleasant land was utterly laid waste."

and will bring them that they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.

"Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: let your hands be strong, ye that now hear these words by the mouth of the prophets which be in these days that the foundation is laid upon the LORD of Hosts' house, that the temple may be builded.

And it shall come to pass, that like as ye were a curse among the Heathen, O ye house of Judah and ye house of Israel: Even so will I deliver you, that ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Now the things that ye shall do, are these: Speak every man the truth unto his neighbour, execute judgment truly, and peaceably within your ports,

none of you imagine evil in his heart against his neighbour, and love no false oaths: for all these are things that I hate, sayeth the LORD."

And they that dwell in one city, shall go to another, saying, 'Up, let us go, and pray before the LORD; let us seek the LORD of Hosts, I will go with you.'

Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: In that time shall ten men, out of all manner of languages of the Gentiles, take one Jew by the hem of his garment, and say, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is among you.'"

And so will I compass my house round about with my men of war going to and fro: that no oppressor come upon them any more. For that have I seen now with mine eyes.

Turn you now to the stronghold, ye that be in prison, and long sore to be delivered: And this day I bring the word, that I will reward thee double again.

O how prosperous and goodly a thing shall that be: The corn shall make the young men cheerful, and the new wine the maidens.