Add parallel Print Page Options

What They Offer Me Is Unclean[a]

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai. 11 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests to give a ruling on this. 12 If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment and he allows the fold to come in contact with bread or broth or wine or oil or food of any kind, will that also become consecrated? The priests answered, “No.”

13 Haggai then asked, “If anyone who has been defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of those, does that become unclean?” The priests replied, “It will become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai continued,

So it is with this people and this nation
    in my view, says the Lord.
So also are all the works of their hands;
    whatever they offer here is unclean.

15 But now, think back to recent times as you ponder the future. Before one stone was laid upon another in the temple of the Lord, how did you fare?

16 When you came to a heap
    of twenty measures of grain,
    you would find only ten.
When you came to a wine vat
    to draw fifty measures,
    you would find only twenty.
17 I struck you and all the products of your toil
    with blight and mildew and hail.
Even so, you would not return to me,
    says the Lord.

18 Now consider from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. From the day on which the foundations of the temple of the Lord was laid, consider:

19 Previously the seed had not sprouted,
    and the vine and the fig tree,
the pomegranate and the olive tree,
    had borne no fruit.
From this day forward
    I intend to bless you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Haggai 2:10 This oracle dates from December of 520 B.C.; verses 15-19 should be placed after Hag 1:15a.

Blessings for a Defiled People

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,(A) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests(B) what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat(C) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?(D)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

13 Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.(E)

14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people(F) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer(G) there is defiled.

15 “‘Now give careful thought(H) to this from this day on[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid(I) on another in the Lord’s temple.(J) 16 When anyone came to a heap(K) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat(L) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.(M) 17 I struck all the work of your hands(N) with blight,(O) mildew and hail,(P) yet you did not return(Q) to me,’ declares the Lord.(R) 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought(S) to the day when the foundation(T) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate(U) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.(V)

“‘From this day on I will bless(W) you.’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Haggai 2:15 Or to the days past