The new temple

1On October 17 of that year, Yahweh gave me, the prophet Haggai, another message.

2The message was that I should say this to Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and to the other people who were still alive in Jerusalem:

3“Do any of you remember how glorious our former temple was? If you do, what does it look like to you now? It must seem like nothing at all.

4But now the Commander of the armies of angels says to all of you, to Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of you people who live in this nation, ‘Do not be discouraged; be strong [DOU], and work to build this new temple, because I will ◄be with/help► you.

5My Spirit remains among you, like I promised your ancestors when they left Egypt. So do not be afraid!’ ”

6This is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: “Soon I will shake the sky and the earth, the oceans and the land again.

7I will shake again the people of all the nations, and as a result they will bring their treasures to this temple. I will fill this temple with my glory.

8The silver and the gold that they own are really mine, so they will bring them to me.

9Then this temple will be more glorious than the former/previous temple was. And I will cause things to go well for you all. That will surely happen because I, the Commander of the armies of angels, have said it.”

What they do now will be acceptable to Yahweh

10On December 18 of that year, Yahweh gave another message to me, the prophet Haggai.

11This is what the Commander of the armies of angels said to me: “Ask the priests this question about what is written in the laws of Moses about sacrifices:

12‘If one of you priests takes from the altar some meat that was sacrificed and is carrying it in his robes, if his robe touches some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or some other food, does that food also become ◄holy/acceptable for a sacrifice►?’” When he said that to the priests, they replied, “No.”

13Then Haggai asked them, “If someone becomes unacceptable to God by touching a corpse, and then he touches any of those foods, will the food also become unacceptable to God?” The priests replied, “Yes.”

14Then Haggai replied, “Yahweh says this: ‘It is the same with you people and with this nation. Everything that you do and all the sacrifices that you all offer are unacceptable to me because of the sins that you have committed.

15Think about what has been happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of my temple.

16When you expected to harvest 20 bushels of grain, you harvested only ten bushels. When someone went to a big wine vat to get 50 gallons of wine, there were only 20 gallons in the vat.

17I sent ◄blight/hot winds► and mildew and hail to destroy all your crops. But still you did not return to me.

18Starting from this day, December 18, the day when you have laid the foundation of my new temple, continue to think carefully about your situation.

19Is there now [RHQ] any grain seed left in your barns? No, because you have eaten the small amount that you harvested. And there is no fruit on your grapevines and fig trees and pomegranate trees and olive trees. But, from now on, I will bless you!’ ”

Yahweh’s promise to Zerubbabel

20On that same day, Yahweh gave another message to me.

21He said, “Tell Zerubbabel the governor of Judah that I am going to shake the sky and the earth.

22I will end the power of the kings of many nations [DOU]. I will cause their chariots and their drivers, their horses and the soldiers who are riding on them to be destroyed. What will happen is that I will cause the soldiers to kill each other with their swords.

23Zerubbabel, you serve me well. So I, the Commander of the armies of angels, declare that like kings wear signet rings to show that they have authority to rule people, I will appoint you and cause you to have authority to rule. I will do that because I have chosen you. That will surely happen because I, the Commander of the armies of angels, have said it.”