¹⁴ So the Lord stirred up^(A) the spirit of Zerubbabel^(B) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak,^(C) the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant^(D) of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, ¹⁵ on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.^(E)

The Promised Glory of the New House

In the second year of King Darius,^(F) 2 ¹ on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,^(G) the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:^{(H) 2} “Speak to Zerubbabel^(I) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,^[a](J) the high priest, and to the remnant^(K) of the people. Ask them, ³ ‘Who of you is left who saw this house^(L) in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?^{(M) 4} But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong,^(N) Joshua son of Jozadak,^(O) the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with^(P) you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted^(Q) with you when you came out of Egypt.^(R) And my Spirit^(S) remains among you. Do not fear.’^(T)

⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while^(U) I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,^(V) the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired^(W) by all nations will come, and I will fill this house^(X) with glory,^(Y)’ says the Lord Almighty. ⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold^(Z) is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁹ ‘The glory^(AA) of this present house^(AB) will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,^(AC)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation^(A) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.^(B) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me^(C) to you.

¹⁰ “Who dares despise the day^(D) of small things,^(E) since the seven eyes^(F) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone^[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”^(G)

⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong^(A) so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets^(B) said who were present when the foundation^(C) was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.