Haggai 1

1In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2The LORD of Armies says this: These people are saying, “The time has not come, the time to rebuild the LORD’s house.”

3Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4Is it a time for you yourselves to live in paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5So now, the LORD of Armies says this: Think carefully about how you are living. 6You have sown much and harvested little. You eat, yet are never satisfied; you drink, yet never have your fill; you dress, yet no one is warm. And whoever earns wages earns them only to put them in a purse with holes.

7The LORD of Armies says this: Think carefully about how you are living. 8Go up into the hills, bring down timber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and will be honored, says the LORD. 9You expected much, but it came to little; whatever you brought home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of Armies. Because my house lies in ruins while each of you hurries off to your own house. 10That is why, because of you, the sky has kept back its dew and the earth has kept back its crops. 11I have called down a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, on everything the soil produces, on people and animals, and on all the work of your hands.

12Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the rest of the people, did what the LORD their God said and heeded the words of the prophet Haggai, since the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave the people the LORD’s message: “I am with you, declares the LORD.” 14So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and that of everyone else among the people. They came and set to work on the house of the LORD of Armies, their God,

15on the twenty-fourth day of the month, the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.