Haggai Chapter 1

¹ The First Day, Sixth Month, Second Year of King Darius

A Message from the LORD by the Prophet Haggai

for Zerubbabel Son of Shealtiel, Governor of Judah,

and for Joshua Son of Jehozadak, the High Priest,

God’s Call to Rebuild the Temple

² “The LORD says, ‘These people are saying this is no time to be rebuilding the LORD’s Temple.’”

³ A message came by Haggai, ⁴ “Is this a time for you to be living in your paneled houses while my Temple lies in ruins?”

⁵ “Think about how things are going for you!

⁶ You sow a lot, but reap a little;

you eat, but not enough to satisfy;

you drink, but not enough to quench your thirst;

you put on clothes, but you’re not warm;

you put your pay in pouches with holes in them.”

Hag 1:1-6

⁷ “Think about what you’re doing!

⁸ “Go up into the mountains to get lumber; rebuild the Temple so I can be pleased with it and honored by it. ⁹ You look for a good crop, but it comes in poor. When you haul it in, I blow it away. Why? Because my Temple is lying in ruins while your interest lies in your own houses. ¹⁰ So the sky hasn’t dropped dew, and the ground hasn’t produced crops. ¹¹ I called for a drought on the fields and hills: the grain, new wine, and olive oil—on what the ground grows; on you, your livestock, and your efforts.”

Obedience to God’s Call

¹² So Zerubbabel, Joshua/Jeshua, and the remnant obeyed Haggai because the LORD had sent him, and the people respected the LORD. ¹³ Then Haggai said by God’s commission, “‘I’m with you,’ the LORD says.” ¹⁴ So the LORD stirred up Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant to begin work on the Temple ¹⁵ the twenty-fourth day, sixth month, second year of Darius.