2. Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: This people claims that the time has not yet arrived for building the house of the Lord.
3. But the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying:
4. Is it time for you to dwell in paneled houses, while this house is deserted?
5. And now, thus says the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts upon your ways.
6. You sowed much and have brought in little. You consumed and have not been satisfied. You drank and have not been inebriated. You covered yourselves and have not been warmed. And whoever gathered wages, has put them in a bag with holes.
7. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts upon your ways.
8. Ascend to the mountain, bring wood and build the house, and it shall be acceptable to me, and I shall be glorified, says the Lord.
9. You have looked for more, and behold, it became less, and you brought it home, and I blew it away. What is the cause of this, says the Lord of hosts? It is because my house is desolate, yet you have hurried, each one to his own house.
10. Because of this, the heavens over you have been prohibited from giving dew, and the earth has been prohibited from giving her sprouts.
11. And I called a drought over the land, and over the mountains, and over the wheat, and over the wine, and over the oil, and whatever the soil would bring forth, and over men, and over beasts of burden, and over all the labor of hands.