Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the highpriest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the highpriest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
If one bearholyflesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touchbread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priestsanswered and said, No.
ThenansweredHaggai, and said, So is thispeople, and so is thisnationbefore me, saith the LORD; and so is everywork of theirhands; and thatwhichtheyofferthere is unclean.
Sincethosedayswere, when one came to an heap of twentymeasures, therewere but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fiftyvessels out of the press, therewere but twenty.
Consider now fromthis day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninthmonth, evenfrom the day that the foundation of the LORD’Stemple was laid, consider it.
Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olivetree, hath not broughtforth: fromthis day will I bless you.
And I willoverthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I willdestroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I willoverthrow the chariots, and thosethatride in them; and the horses and theirridersshallcomedown, every one by the sword of his brother.
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I takethee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and willmakethee as a signet: for I havechosenthee, saith the LORD of hosts.