17. I infested all your work with blight and mildew and struck it with hail. But you didn’t come back to me, declares the Lord.
18. Carefully consider from now on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Carefully consider:
19. Is there any seed left in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still haven’t produced. But from now on I will bless you.”
20. The Lord spoke his word to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month. He said,
21. “Say to Zerubbabel (governor of Judah), ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.
22. I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of nations. I will overthrow chariots and their riders, and the horses will fall along with their riders. They will kill one another with swords.
23. On that day, declares the Lord of Armies, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), declares the Lord. I will make you like a signet ring, because I have chosen you, declares the Lord of Armies.’ ”